The prevention and control of MRSA is a global challenge and important in the control of healthcare associated infections. In 1995 the Department of Health published Guidelines for the control of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in acute hospital wards, including specialist units.
However, in the period following publication of the guidelines many significant new challenges, including the increasing rate of resistance to antibiotics, arose. In 2005, the Infection Control Committee of the Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland (SARI) reviewed the literature on MRSA and revised the 1995 Irish guidelines. The Subcommittee utilised guidelines produced in other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
Implementation of guidelines is now within the context of the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, which were published by the Health Information and Quality Authority in 2009. These standards were designed to promote an environment that maximises safety, quality and accountability in health and social care services and to drive a culture of responsibility and accountability among all staff involved in the management and delivery of health and social care services. These National Standards are the key component in maximising patient safety and improving the quality of health and social care in Ireland.
The HSE/Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI) Clinical Advisory Group on HCAIs has submitted the latest guidelines on the Control and Prevention of MRSA to the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) for consideration to become part of the national suite of clinical guidelines. The NCEC has received 16 submissions and is currently undertaking a prioritisation exercise to identify which submissions will proceed to the next stage of the process.
I am satisfied that appropriate steps are being taken by the HSE to address the issue of HCAIs, including MRSA, and to treat them promptly when they occur. The HSE's performance indicators at national level continue to demonstrate encouraging improvements in the area of infection prevention and control with the reported incidence of MRSA dropping by 43% in the number of MRSA cases reported between 2007 and 2010.