John Gormley
Ceist:233 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he has taken to minimise the use of antibiotics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25637/01]
Written Answers. - Antibiotics Use.
In 1999 my Department asked the National Disease Surveillance Centre to evaluate the problem of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland – of which antibiotic misuse is a contributing factor – and to formulate a strategy for the future. The NDSC gave detailed consideration to these issues and have drawn up a strategy for the control of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland, which I launched on 19 June last. This report contains a wide range of detailed recommendations to address the issue of antimicrobial resistance, including a strategy to control the inappropriate use of antibiotics. The SARI recommendations can be grouped into four categories: surveillance of resistance and antibiotic use; hygiene and prevention of infection; judicious use of antibiotics in hospitals and the community; and education of health care workers, patients and the general public.
Tackling the problem of antimicrobial resistance is a multi-faceted issue which will require action on a number of fronts. Implementation of the strategy will take place on a phased basis over the next two to three years. As a first step, in the current year £2 million has been provided to the health boards for antimicrobial resistance measures, 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, the development of surveillance systems for the collection of antimicrobial resistance data and information on antibiotic prescribing in hospitals.