Vol. 507 No. 4
128 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of outbreaks of MRSA in hospitals in each of the past three years; the hospitals affected; the number of patients affected; the number of patients who, as a consequence of this infection, have lost their lives; and the hospitals in which these patients were infected. [16988/99]
As MRSA is not a notifiable disease under the infectious disease control regulations, national statistics on incidence are not routinely collected. In 1995, a survey was undertaken to ascertain the number of times MRSA was isolated in acute hospitals over a defined period of time. 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. All 45 microbiology laboratories surveyed responded. MRSA was isolated from 448 patients during the two week period. The prevalence of MRSA during this period was 16.5 in every 1000 discharges.
Subsequently, guidelines for acute hospitals and other facilities were developed and circulated, drawing attention to issues such as the need for education and training of staff, and for infection control committees.
In order to review the situation, a repeat all-Ireland study was carried out between 1 and 14 February 1999, under the direction of the Eastern Health Board. The results of the study will be available later this year.
The Deputy will also be interested to know that a national disease surveillance centre has been established under the aegis of the Eastern Health Board. This centre will build on the reporting systems which have been developed in some regions and will assist in the control of all communicable diseases, including hospital acquired infections such as MRSA.
