Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - MRSA Infections.

Dick Spring

Ceist:

182 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he will take following the publication of a report prepared by the Eastern Regional Health Authority in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Health Authority which shows that the lethal bacterium MRSA - methicilin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is twice as prevalent in southern hospitals as it is in hospitals in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24543/00]

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

202 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on reports of poor hospital hygiene. [24479/00]

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

512 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the incidence of MRSA cases in hospitals over the past five years; the way in which our record compares to other EU countries; the number of deaths that have been attributed to it; if it is a notifiable disease; if not, the reasons in this regard; and if he will outline his plans in this regard. [24376/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 202 and 512 together.

MRSA is a significant infection which occurs in hospitals and in the community. There are many contributing factors including the use of antibiotics and the control of infection in our hospitals. Guidelines for acute hospitals and other facilities were developed and circulated to health boards in 1999.

MRSA is not a statutorily notifiable infectious disease and so statistics on its occurrence are not routinely compiled by my Department. The list of notifiable diseases is currently being reviewed by the National Disease Surveillance Centre and I expect that their recommendations will include making MRSA a notifiable disease.

A survey of MRSA carried out in spring 1995 indicated a prevalence of 16.5 per 1000 discharges. In 1998 a repeat MRSA study was commissioned by my Department. It was carried out under the direction of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. Data was gathered in the North and South on all MRSA cases over a two week period in February 1999. The report cautions against over interpreting the results of the study. The MRSA prevalence per 1,000 discharges from acute hospitals was 7.8 in the North and 15.4 for the South, but whether the higher proportion found in the South was due to a higher level of screening is unknown. In addition, a much wider range of institutions are defined as "acute" in the South compared to the North. For these reasons the figures are not readily comparable.

In light of the higher MRSA prevalence in the south a higher incidence rate would also have been expected but this was not found to be the case.

Information on the number of deaths attributed to MRSA is not available. Patients may die with MRSA but not from MRSA.

MRSA is part of the broader issue of antimicrobial resistance. In addition to commissioning the North-South study of MRSA, my Department also asked the National Disease Surveillance Centre to evaluate the problem of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland and to formulate a strategy for the future. Both reports are being considered and proposals to address the problem are being formulated, which I hope to announce in the near future.