Infection Prevention

Infection prevention

Medical Centre Wetering has an active policy against the spread of multi-resistant bacteria. These are bacteria that are no longer sensitive to common antibiotics.

Will you be receiving outpatient treatment soon?

If you will  be receiving outpatient treatment soon, it is important for MC Wetering (and your fellow patients) to know whether you are a carrier of a particularly resistant bacterium (BRMO) such as MRSA. We will ask you a number of questions, namely:

• Are you known to be a carrier of resistant bacteria?
• Have you been admitted to another healthcare facility in the past year?
• Do you have contact with live pigs, veal calves or broilers that are kept commercially for the meat industry or do you live on a farm where these animals are kept commercially?
• Are you a housemate and/or carer of an MRSA positive patient?
• Do you currently live or have lived in an institution for asylum seekers in the past 2 months?

Specially Resistant Microorganisms (BRMO)

In fact, you may be a carrier of the MRSA bacteria (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) or other Specially Resistant Microorganisms (BRMO). The presence of a BRMO does not cause symptoms of illness in healthy people. When your resistance is reduced, it can cause infections, just like other bacteria. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, if necessary. If the infection is caused by a particularly resistant bacterium, this means that this bacterium is insensitive (resistant) to one (or more) of the antibiotics that the dermatologist would like to use as first choice in treatment. This makes an infection more difficult to treat. MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is an example of a BRMO. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium normally found on the skin. In the case of MRSA, this bacterium has become insensitive to common antibiotics.

Note:

Infection prevention

A check on this is valid for 3 months. You may be asked these questions again before your next treatment. For yourself, this bacterium need not have any consequences. The bacterium is, however, insensitive to most antibiotics and is therefore a major problem for Dutch healthcare institutions.

Have you recently been admitted to a foreign hospital?

It is important to know whether you have been admitted to a foreign hospital in the three months prior to your scheduled outpatient visit. If this has been the case, please notify the staff member at the outpatient clinic by telephone well in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions about Infection Prevention

What is meant by infection prevention?

Infection prevention includes all measures taken to prevent the spread of bacteria and other microorganisms within the clinic. This helps ensure safe care for both patients and healthcare staff.

Why does the clinic ask questions about resistant bacteria such as MRSA?

This is part of the clinic’s infection prevention policy. By identifying possible carriers of MRSA or other BRMO (highly resistant microorganisms) in advance, appropriate precautions can be taken to prevent transmission.

What does it mean if I am a carrier of a BRMO?

Carrying a BRMO usually does not cause symptoms in healthy individuals. However, in certain situations, infections caused by resistant bacteria can be more difficult to treat, which is why early identification is important.

Will carrying a resistant bacterium affect my treatment?

In some cases, additional precautions may be required to prevent the spread of infection. This may influence how your treatment is planned or performed, but care can usually proceed as scheduled.

Why should I report if I have been admitted to a hospital abroad?

Resistant bacteria are more common in some foreign healthcare settings. Informing the clinic in advance allows appropriate infection prevention measures to be taken.

What can I do myself to help prevent infections?

You can support infection prevention by answering questions about your medical history accurately and reporting any recent hospital admissions. This helps ensure safe care for yourself and other patients.