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Frequently Asked Questions
C. Data queries
Case Entry
CE - FAQ0014

Q: Should contaminants be reported?

A:  With reference to the Chief Medical Officer Letter 9 June 2005, the protocol states that NHS trusts should report "all MRSA positive blood cultures detected in the laboratories, whether clinically significant or not, whether treated or not, whether acquired in the Trust or elsewhere."

(Please note that the Department of Health and social care contact details on this letter are now out of date).

The case definition as set out by DH has always included contaminants, so these needs to be counted in the trajectory figures to allow comparisons to be made. The free text comments field and the “source” fields of the risk factor page on the data capture system should be used to indicate that you believe such cases to be contaminants - this is helpful for identifying clinically significant blood cultures.