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.