Are you unsure whether Dutch hospital standards are as good as German ones? Then we have some important information for you in this article! Because when it comes to dangerous multi-resistant hospital germs, clinics in the Netherlands - like ours Acura clinic - safer than German ones. Read below to find out why.
Why are germs like MRSA so dangerous?
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Bacteria of the Staphylococcus aureus species are found on the skin and mucous membranes of many healthy people. They usually colonise the nasal vestibule, throat, armpits and groin, for example, without making those affected ill.
The bacteria can become resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and other antibiotics. This tends to make them dangerous, as if these bacteria enter the body through wounds or mucous membranes, they can sometimes cause serious infections in high-risk patients that are difficult to combat.
are patients at risk:
- People with a weakened immune system
- Hospitalised patients and those in need of chronic care in retirement homes
- Dialysis patients, diabetics
- Patients with foreign bodies such as catheters, an opening of the trachea to the outside, joint replacement
- People with skin injuries such as burns or chronic wounds
An MRSA infection can be particularly severe in immunocompromised, elderly patients and infants, e.g. with skin inflammation (ulcers or accumulations of pus), wound infections, inflammation of individual organs or a bloodstream infection (sepsis).
MRSA mainly occurs in places where antibiotics are frequently used, i.e. mostly in hospitals. This is why they are also referred to as hospital germs.
Prevention of hospital-acquired infections through a search-and-destroy strategy in the Netherlands
The Dutch are pioneers in perfect germ prevention, because they put a lot more energy into control and prevention in their hospitals. The aim is to prevent, recognise and better combat hospital infections.
Statistics also show this: According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Netherlands, together with Norway (0.7 per cent) and Sweden (1.0 per cent), had the lowest "MRSA infection rate" of the population in Europe in 2013.
But what do the Dutch clinics do differently?
- The fight against MRSA and other multi-resistant germs began back in the 1980s and a special strategy was developed for this purpose: This consists of isolated care for patients with MRSA as well as the active detection and treatment of patients with MRSA (search-and-destroy strategy). To this end, every hospital in the Netherlands has a hospital hygienist who is solely responsible for recognising, preventing and combating multi-resistant germs. In Germany, a comparable control strategy was only introduced much later.
- On admission to hospital, all patients at risk are tested for antibiotic-resistant germs - preferably before they are admitted. This applies whether they show symptoms of infection or not. If a patient is already in hospital, they are isolated until the test results are known. This is to prevent infection of other people.
- Microbiologists and hygienists look after high-risk patients, the cleaning staff are trained accordingly and the hygiene rules regarding disinfection are strict. In Germany, only those who are ill are considered high-risk patients.
- All medical facilities strictly adhere to the strict guidelines. They are then inspected by the "Healthcare Inspectorate".
- The use of antibiotics is significantly lower in the Netherlands than in Germany. This means that bacteria do not become resistant to the medication as quickly. Dutch doctors are monitored in their use of antibiotics by the Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM), an authority responsible for public health and environmental protection.
German clinics copy the concept
Of course, a lot is also being done in Germany to combat MRSA: there are also concepts for combating it, hygiene standards are high - but processes can still be optimised. The Dutch show how it can be done!
This is why the "EurSafety Health-Net" network is now also helping medical facilities to implement the "anti-germ concept". There are now already 118 on the German side. Universities, healthcare facilities and public health services in the German-Dutch border region have been part of this network since 2009.
© Photo "Staphylococcus aureus MRSA" by iLexx | elements.envato.com