Sophia Evangeline Smith

Recommendation 1: Weekly screening of vulnerable neonates in intensive care is a useful early warning of Staphylococcus aureus colonisation. This can inform clinical decisions with regard to possible infection and antibiotic therapy. NHSGGC should review the existing protocol in order to ensure that it is properly complied with at all times. Other Health Boards should consider adopting a similar screening process. Recommendation 2: Public Health Scotland should disseminate information on; (a) the risks associated with PVL-MSSA; (b) the difficulties of diagnosis; (c) the advantages of early antibiotic and anti-toxin therapy, and; (d) the learning described by Dr Jonathan Coutts in his evidence, to other neonatal clinical teams throughout Scotland.