Dan Neville
Ceist:283 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of deaths in hospital in each of the health board areas for 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 from the superbug methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. [18963/01]
Written Answers. - Hospital Deaths.
Information on the number of deaths attributable to methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, is not available. Although colonisation with MRSA is not uncommon, it is unusual for this to result in mortality among colonised patients.
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 hospitals. Guidelines for acute hospitals and other facilities were developed and circulated to health boards in 1995.
In 1999 my Department asked the National Disease Surveillance Centre to evaluate the problem of antibiotic resistance in Ireland and to formulate a strategy for the future. On 19 June 2001 I launched the report, A Strategy for the control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland, SARI, which was produced by the NDSC. The recommendations within SARI include national surveillance programmes for antibiotic resistance as well as surveillance of antibiotic prescribing and use. The report also makes recommendations for implementing programmes to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and improve the control and prevention of infection in hospitals and the community.
Health boards have been asked to re-examine and develop or revise as appropriate the infection control strategies for both hospitals and the community taking into account the recommendations in SARI and in the North-South study of MRSA in Ireland 1999. The boards have been asked to address in particular infection control strategies and staffing in both hospitals and the community.
Question No. 284 answered with Question No. 273.
Questions Nos. 285 and 286 answered with Question No. 230.