An audit of healthcare workers' knowledge of meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) against current infection control standards

Abstract

The aim of this audit was to establish the knowledge of different healthcare workers regarding meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection control precautions within the clinical environment. Data was interpreted to identify how education could be appropriately targeted to enhance the knowledge of all staff. A cross-sectional audit tool was developed from existing policies and national guidelines. Stratified random sampling was undertaken and 961 audits were distributed proportionately to differing groups of healthcare workers from within one UK NHS hospital; 411 audits were returned giving a 43% response rate. The majority of staff (71%) felt that MRSA is a very serious issue. The amount of staff that had read the trust's MRSA policy or received any formal MRSA education varied considerably, depending on the healthcare worker's occupation, and it was predominantly the nursing staff who had read the MRSA policy. It was unexpected, but encouraging, to find that unregistered nurses (healthcare assistants) and doctors had received the most education regarding MRSA. Of concern was that the majority of hotel services staff (69%) had not read the policy or received any MRSA education (79%). Only medical staff felt they had received adequate amounts of education on MRSA.