Nurse struck off for MRSA failure

Hand washing is the most effective way of battling MRSA

A woman has become the first nurse in England to be struck off for failing to wash her hands after treating a patient with MRSA.

Yvonne Zanele Cemane, 53, was found guilty of six allegations of misconduct by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The nurse, from Birmingham, worked at Rylands Nursing and Residential Home in Newport, Shrops, from May to July 2005.

She was also found to have roughly treated a man and demonstrated a "lack of basic anatomical knowledge".

Cemane failed to wear a protective apron while treating the patient with MRSA and did not remove her gloves afterwards.

'Public confidence'

Leila Harris, Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) spokeswoman, said the failure to wash her hands after treating the MRSA patient had been a contributing factor in the panel's decision.

"There were a total of six charges (proven) and that happened to be one of them.

"It's the first time that has contributed to somebody being struck off," she said.

Michael Summers, vice-chairman of the Patients Association, said: "All nurses are well aware of the need to ensure that not only do they protect the patient, but other members of staff from the infection spread.

"They (NMC) have taken a very serious view, as do we, of the allegations against this nurse, which included the risk of spreading MRSA and not taking proper action to hand washing."

Cemane, originally from South Africa, did not attend the hearing on Tuesday.

Panel chairwoman Catherine Duthie said: "The appropriate and proportionate sanction to impose in this case is that the respondent be struck off the register.

"No lesser sanction would be appropriate, having regard to the panel's duty to act in the public interest and to preserve public confidence in the profession."

The allegations proven against her were: An incorrect entry in the care plan of a patient, failing to record the administration of medication, failing to ensure medication was taken, using the wrong dressing to treat a wound, failing to wear an apron, remove gloves or wash her hands after treating a patient with MRSA and roughly handing a patient and acting inappropriately when attending to him.