HCAIs: statutory code of practice in England and Wales

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) such as Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. dif) are never far from the media headlines. In January 2006 a leaked memo identified the government's concerns that its target of halving MRSA infection rates by April 2008 may not be met (Boseley 2007). During 2004-5, 30 people died following two outbreaks of C. dif at Stoke Mandeville (Boseley 2007). In this article the author will focus on and discuss in detail key components of the new Code of Practice on Health Care Associated Infections (DH 2006a) to show how legislation has provided the framework to ensure that not only do NHS bodies have a duty to comply with this Act but so do we as practitioners.