Extension of mandatory surveillance to Meticillin Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA) and updated healthcare associated infections clinical guidance (HCAI Compendium)

Reminder that, following a Secretary of State announcement on 5 October 2010, there is a mandatory requirement for all NHS acute trusts to report Meticillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteraemia from this month. This applies to all cases diagnosed after 1 January 2011. This letter also announces that the new HCAI Compendium will be available in January 2011. To reflect the need to ensure that the NHS have the most recent evidence based guidance at their disposal to support not only further progress in reducing MRSA and C. difficile but also a wide range of other HCAIs, including MSSA, the clinical guidance and good practice guides have been updated. This “HCAI Compendium” will be made available in January, initially as part of the archived Clean, Safe Care website (www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk), before moving onto the DH website later in the year