MRSA is shorthand for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococus aureus. This is commonly known as Staph, one of the most commonly found bacteria. It usually lives harmlessly on human skin. Staph has become dangerous as it is so difficult to treat due to a strain of this bacterium becoming resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin, penicillin and amoxycillin.

30% of the population carries MRSA. It lives harmlessly on the skin and is not usually a problem in the general population, including nursing and care homes. However, it can become a problem in the sick or weak which is why it causes so many problems in hospitals amongst vulnerable people. Patients residing in close proximity who have regular skin contact with the same nursing staff have a high risk of contracting the infection.

Not only is MRSA spread through skin-to-skin contact, it can also survive and spread through inanimate objects or surfaces such as linen, sinks, floors and mops used for cleaning. For this reason, areas where patients with MRSA are nursed should be thoroughly cleaned using the correct cleaning products and techniques.

The essence of infection control is good cleaning practice. Disinfecting and sanitizing agents are very useful in killing bacteria but unless the surface itself is clean, the disinfection and sanitizing will not be effective.

A rare strain of Staphylococcus aureus is C-MRSA ( Community-Acquired MRSA ) which has none of the recognised risk factors associated with MRSA and affects health people of all ages. C-MRSA is associated with skin abrasions and has been found in communal changing areas in sports clubs where close contact sports are played. Other groups at risk of contacting C-MRSA include prison inmates and drug users sharing needles.

The C-MRSA infection is more sensitive to antibiotic treatment than hospital acquired MRSA and can be treated using antibiotics, however good hygiene and cleaning practice is the recommended preventative action and will reduce the spread of the infection.

Chemex offers a wide range of cleaning and sanitizing agents which are widely used in the healthcare and leisure sectors to provide effective protection against MRSA. An important aspect of the Chemex approach to cleaning in these areas is effective staff training to complement market-leading products. Cleaning and hygiene control programs are set up and cleaning and care staff are tutored by trained distributors in the proper effective use of the products to create and maintain a clean, safe environment.

"Hospital infections like MRSA, are the new British Disease. They kill at least 5,000 people a year, more than die on our roads." The best way of saving people is with hygiene - yet simple procedures are still not being practiced." The Independent.