Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 2000

Written Answers. - Drug Resistant Infections.

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

136 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health and Children the incidences of methicillin resistent staphylococcus aureus in hospitals; the action, if any, being taken to tackle this problem to protect patients from becoming infected by other illnesses in hospitals; the number of patients affected in each of the years from 1997 to 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7666/00]

Alan Shatter

Question:

204 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the incidences of methicillin resistent staphylococcus aureus in hospitals; the action, if any, being taken to tackle this problem to protect patients from becoming infected by other illnesses in hospitals; the number of patients affected in each of the years from 1997 to 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10198/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 204 together.

MRSA is not a statutorily notifiable infectious disease and so statistics on its occurrence are not routinely compiled by my Department. In 1995 a survey was carried out to ascertain the number of times MRSA was isolated in acute hospitals in each health board area over a defined time period. The objective of this survey was to obtain an indication of the MRSA problem in Ireland prior to introducing national MRSA guidelines. A survey of all microbiology laboratories in Ireland was carried out over two weeks in spring 1995. MRSA was isolated from 448 patients during the two week period. The prevalence of MRSA during this period was 16.5 in every 1,000 discharges. A repeat all Ireland study was undertaken in 1999 under the direction of the Department of Public Health in the Eastern Health Board. The results of this study are expected to be available shortly.

The importance of infection control has been recognised for some time and was specifically addressed by my Department in 1995. At that time, detailed guidelines in relation to the control of MRSA were developed and circulated by my Department. While the guidelines dealt specifically with the control of MRSA, the principles set out in the guidelines are equally applicable to control of hospital acquired infection in general. The guidelines draw attention to such issues as the need for education and training of staff and for infection control structures and procedures. In particular, the guidelines emphasise that hand washing is the most important factor in preventing the spread of MRSA, stressing that consultants and nurse managers must insist on good hand washing procedures. I fully endorse the approach set out in these guidelines which emphasise the importance of implementing appropriate infection control procedures and practices in line with the guidelines with a view to ensuring that hospital acquired infection is kept to a minimum.

In addition to the guidelines already published, my Department also intends to establish multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral policies to reduce the threat that anti-microbial resistance poses and has requested the National Disease Surveillance Centre to convene an expert group to advise on this matter. Among the range of issues on which the NDSC has been asked to consider is the development of principles in relation to infection control in the hospital and community settings. The NDSC is currently preparing a report on these issues and the problem of anti-microbial resistance generally.