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| MRSA 'could be treated at home' | MRSA 'could be treated at home' |
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| Up to a third of people with MRSA could be discharged from hospital and treated at home with antibiotics, experts say. | Up to a third of people with MRSA could be discharged from hospital and treated at home with antibiotics, experts say. |
| They say moving away from treating patients in hospital with antibiotics administered into their veins could save the NHS significant sums of money. | |
| The issue is discussed by independent experts in a report, funded by the drug company Pfizer, about managing MRSA. | The issue is discussed by independent experts in a report, funded by the drug company Pfizer, about managing MRSA. |
| The Department of Health said treatment at home was not always appropriate, but it was an option for trusts to examine. | The Department of Health said treatment at home was not always appropriate, but it was an option for trusts to examine. |
| Individual trusts should look at provision by specialist teams, it said. | Individual trusts should look at provision by specialist teams, it said. |
| Treating people with MRSA at home offers multiple benefits Professor Mark WilcoxUniversity of Leeds | Treating people with MRSA at home offers multiple benefits Professor Mark WilcoxUniversity of Leeds |
| But the experts' report said in many cases those treated for MRSA in hospital were otherwise medically fit and could be given antibiotics - possibly by nurses - at home, once the infection had left their bloodstream. It said patients with MRSA spend an average of 11 extra days in hospital. | But the experts' report said in many cases those treated for MRSA in hospital were otherwise medically fit and could be given antibiotics - possibly by nurses - at home, once the infection had left their bloodstream. It said patients with MRSA spend an average of 11 extra days in hospital. |
| If they were sent home instead, it could slash the annual £1bn cost of treatment, the report added. | If they were sent home instead, it could slash the annual £1bn cost of treatment, the report added. |
| One NHS trust in London that tried such a scheme saved about £100,000 a year. | One NHS trust in London that tried such a scheme saved about £100,000 a year. |
| The Health Protection Agency's latest figures on hospital MRSA infections show there were 1,303 cases reported between April and June last year, compared with 1,447 reported between January and March. | The Health Protection Agency's latest figures on hospital MRSA infections show there were 1,303 cases reported between April and June last year, compared with 1,447 reported between January and March. |
| MRSA infections can cause a broad range of symptoms depending on the part of the body that is infected. | MRSA infections can cause a broad range of symptoms depending on the part of the body that is infected. |
| These may include surgical wounds, burns, catheter sites, the eye, skin and blood. | These may include surgical wounds, burns, catheter sites, the eye, skin and blood. |
| Professor Mark Wilcox, an expert in microbiology at the University of Leeds, said: "Treating people with MRSA at home offers multiple benefits in terms of infection control, and reducing NHS costs and resource use. | Professor Mark Wilcox, an expert in microbiology at the University of Leeds, said: "Treating people with MRSA at home offers multiple benefits in terms of infection control, and reducing NHS costs and resource use. |
| "Many patients would also prefer to be discharged from hospital to be with their families while they finish their treatment, and they should be given that option, where possible." | "Many patients would also prefer to be discharged from hospital to be with their families while they finish their treatment, and they should be given that option, where possible." |