Vol. 519 No. 6
95 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed about the incidence of the antibiotic resistant superbug, MRSA, found in hospitals; if he will give the number of hospitals in which MRSA has been detected; the plans there are for better monitoring and reporting of MRSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14540/00]
I am aware of concerns relating to antibiotic resistant organisms, an important form of which is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus – MRSA. Much international research has been carried out in this area and, at a European level, Ireland is involved in surveillance of antibiotic-resistant organisms.
MRSA is not a statutorily notifiable infectious disease and so statistics on its occurrence or on the number of hospitals in which it has been detected 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 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. I fully endorse the approach set out in these guidelines, which emphasise the importance of implementing appropriate infection control procedures and practices with a view to ensuring that hospital-acquired infection is kept to a minimum.
On the initiative of EU chief medical officers, a major international conference on the issue of antibiotic resistance was held in Copenhagen in September 1998. My Department was represented by the deputy chief medical officer and service providers were represented by a range of health care professionals. Arising from recommendations made at the conference, my Department entered into discussions with appropriate agencies, including the National Disease Surveillance Centre, with a view to establishing multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral policies to reduce the threat posed by anti-microbial resistance, disseminating relevant information through the health services and monitoring any further developments in this area.
