Vol. 459 No. 6
67 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health whether proper controls are in place in all hospitals in the country to control strains of MRSA infection; if he will give details of the controls in place; whether all medical, nursing and health care professionals are trained in the control of MRSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18513/95]
, Limerick East): The emergence of multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria over the last 20 years has become one of the most serious threats to the control and successful treatment of infection. MRSA is the commonest of these bacteria encountered in this country and the development of measures to ensure its control has been a major priority both for individual hospitals and for my Department.
Infection control in general is a matter which is always afforded a high priority and in order to deal with the specific problems presented by MRSA, an expert committee was established to draw up guidelines for its control. The committee has now completed its work and I am happy to inform the Deputy that the guidelines drawn up by the committee, together with an information leaflet for all health care personnel, will be published by my Department later this month. I am confident that these guidelines will be of great assistance to all those involved in the task of infection control.
