Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 153: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will provide the figures in respect of the number of cases of MRSA in each of the past three years and to date in 2005; the number of fatalities attributable to MRSA; the steps that are being taken to reduce the incidence of MRSA; if her attention has been drawn to the view expressed by top management in the main teaching hospitals in Dublin that measures to improve facilities and tackle overcrowding in hospitals will be required to deal with MRSA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28789/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Methicillin-resistant staph aureus, MRSA, can exist without affecting people's health and information on the prevalence of such asymptomatic carriage is not routinely reported. For the purposes of the surveillance, prevention and control of this infection, however, the health protection surveillance centre collects data on MRSA bacteraemia, also known as bloodstream infection or "blood poisoning", as part of the European antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, EARRS. EARSS collects data on the first episode of blood stream infection per patient per quarter. EARSS was designed to allow comparison of antimicrobial resistance data between countries and possibly regions but not between hospitals. In 2001, there was 337 reported cases of MRSA bloodstream infection, 445 cases in 2002, 480 cases in 2003 and 550 cases in 2004. The figure for the first six months of 2005 is 314 cases.

I have already asked the Health Service Executive to develop systems and methodologies of reporting of MRSA infections by hospital so that we may have a fuller picture of the location and extent of these infections. It is difficult to identify the number of fatalities attributable to MRSA as many people also have significant co-morbidity factors. The prevention and control of hospital acquired infections, HAIs, including MRSA, is a priority issue for the HSE. Effective infection control measures, including environmental cleanliness and hand hygiene, are central to the control of hospital acquired infections, including drug-resistant organisms such as MRSA.

The HSE health protection surveillance centre has published guidelines on hand hygiene and guidelines on the control of MRSA for hospital and community settings. These significant documents give clear policy and practice guidance to health care workers on the control of hospital acquired infections, including MRSA. Good hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective measures that can be used to stop the spread of MRSA and other infections. Attitudes and practices need to change in health care environments to ensure that basic standards of hygiene apply.

The national hygiene audit has been completed and I expect to receive a report shortly from the director of the national hospitals office. The results of the audit will form the basis for the changes that are required in both work environments and work practices so as to meet the highest possible standards of cleanliness in hospital settings. The results of the hygiene audit will be made public.

The HSE will also publish national infection control standards and national cleaning standards — a consistent and robust set of hygiene standards for hospitals. Where previously standards may have depended on the approach of a particular hospital or health board, the HSE can now ensure every hospital will share and meet the same high standards of cleanliness and infection control. Measures to improve facilities and tackle overcrowding in hospitals are being taken as part of the capital investment framework which has and will continue to provide new and improved infrastructure in hospitals all around the country.

My Department is continuing to engage with the HSE to agree on a series of actions over the next period of time so that MRSA can be effectively dealt with so as to see a reduction in the incidence and effects of these infections.