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Mark-W  
#1 Posted : 17 December 2018 12:32:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Mark-W

Is this reportble? We have a client who is being looked after by our charity. I think it is but can find no definitive answer. 

Looking at the letter of the text, it says if it's a biological agent it's reportable and I think strep A is by definition a biological agent.

Anyone ever come across this before?

Kate  
#2 Posted : 17 December 2018 12:44:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Could you say a bit about what has actually happened?

Mark-W  
#3 Posted : 18 December 2018 07:51:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Mark-W

Not sure what happened here, I posted a reply on my phone but it hasn't appeared.

Anyway, we have a homeless person living in our hostel, he had a severe infection on his face. He was encouraged to seek medical treatment. In the end the local hospital admitted him and it has come to light that he has Strep A.

If you look at the definition of Strep A and what is reportable I think it does. Has anyone had anything similar?

HSSnail  
#4 Posted : 18 December 2018 08:13:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
HSSnail


If I am reading your post correctly, the homeless person has NOT contracted Strep A out of a work activity, as such it is not RIDDOR reportable. If you are concerned about reporting this as an infectious disease to PHE (Public Health England) then that is the GP/Hospital function.
thanks 4 users thanked HSSnail for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 18/12/2018(UTC), nic168 on 18/12/2018(UTC), PH2 on 19/12/2018(UTC), jwk on 24/12/2018(UTC)
Kate  
#5 Posted : 18 December 2018 12:43:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

I agree with Brian.

chris.packham  
#6 Posted : 18 December 2018 14:00:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris.packham

If you were to sample and analyse a wipe of the skin just below the nostrils in a number of people I would be surprised if you did not find at least several where this was positive for streptococcus aureous. Studies have shown that it is quite common to find that people are asymptomatic nasal carriers of this micro-organism. Indeed I have in my files one study that concludes that it is almost impossible to remove this from the nasal passages for several reasons.

Chris

Mark-W  
#7 Posted : 19 December 2018 09:56:14(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Mark-W

Thank you all for your help with this. As I'm leaving the job I didn't really want to drop a RIDDOR report and then run. So I'm glad it's not reportable.

I've instructed staff to be more vigilant with washing hands and general cleanliness.

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