Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 6

Written Answers. - Monitoring of MRSA.

Ivor Callely

Question:

57 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of his Department's monitoring and recording of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, in comparison to our EU counterparts; if he has satisfied himself with the existing Irish system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23727/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): A study of the prevalence of MRSA in Irish hospitals was carried out on behalf of the committee on the control of MRSA which was established by my Department. This survey serves as an important baseline for measuring the effectiveness of the guidelines on the control of MRSA published by my Department. I am also committed to ensuring that future trends in the prevalence of MRSA will be closely monitored.

The establishment of a national disease surveillance unit that would build on the reporting systems which have been developed in some regions and which would assist in the control of all communicable diseases, including hospital acquired infections such as MRSA is currently being considered.

The proposed developments in the area of disease surveillance at national level accord with a current proposal at EU level which seeks to create a network for surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the European Community. The network will operate through a system of close co-operation and effective coordination between member states. The disease categories to be covered by the proposed network includes hospital acquired infections of which MRSA is one.