Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSMHRA issue infection alert on mattresses
The MHRA have issued a medical device alert for all types of mattresses after investigations revealed that there is a widespread lack of inspection regimes to check for external damage and internal contamination.
Damage to mattress covers can allow body or other fluids to contaminate the inner core and this is a potential source of cross-infection. The alert identifies the following actions;
- Inspect the exterior surface of each mattress cover for signs of damage, such as holes or cuts;
- Remove the cover and inspect its inside surface and the mattress core for staining or contamination;
- Safely dispose of any covers showing signs of damage or staining;
- Arrange for contaminated mattress cores to be either cleaned and decontaminated or safely disposed of;
- Ensure that a frequent inspection regime is established for all mattresses before and during use.
The MHRA has produced a poster to raise awareness of this problem.
The recommendations must be implemented by 05 March 2010.
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Medical Device Alert: All types of bed mattresses
PDF, size 0.18 MbPoster on mattress decontamination
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Readers' comments (6)
Andrew Reid | 20-Jan-2010 12:43 pm
Unless this is in the control of a bacteriologist and senior nurse, and nurses are part of the process (whether they are actually doing the checking or making sure daily someone else doing it) then this is all hot air.
No one is is going to do this work. Everyone will say it is someone else's job. it will be the odd complaint by patients about bloody matresses to nursing staff who will tell the people in charge of maintaining beds.
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victoria vink | 21-Jan-2010 9:49 am
I would like to comment, that when a patient in the UK is either discharged or moved to another bed, the bed is only wiped down with soap and water or not at all depending upon how busy the ward is. Not surprising the bacteria that already are on the mattress might cause infection to patients.
When I was visiting a hospital in Switzerland, I was told that when patient's are discharged there, the bed goes off the ward to be autoclaved and comes back with the bedding seal packed and ready for the next patient.
I know which I would prefer!
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Anonymous | 21-Jan-2010 8:45 pm
We inspected our mattress covers yesterday and 12 out of 33 were identified as having strike through, and thats just our ward.
It just confirms don't judge the mattress by the cover.
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Josephine Gbobbo | 21-Jan-2010 11:55 pm
If covers of mattresses are torn or have
cracks, the inside will definitely be contaminated. Therefore, cannot be used they need to be condemned and replaced with new ones, especially in medical wards and A&E units.
1/22/10
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Catriona Barton | 22-Jan-2010 9:51 am
On our ward we take part in these cleaning procedures. Any time we clean a mattress whether it is between patients or day to day cleaning and making beds we clean the mattress inspecting for cracks and we (the nurses) pour small amount of water on top of the mattress, unzip mattress cover and inspect for any leakage. It is then written on the mattress in marker pen when checked and if it is leaking or cracked it is condemned and no longer used and a new replacement is sent up to the ward to be used. This is quite a new procedure for us but if it cuts down infection and hospital stays surely it must be a good thing as it doesn't take long.
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Anonymous | 5-Aug-2010 4:13 pm
I love the Switzerland style:we should
emulate this.
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