Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 210: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the actions being taken to deal with the challenge of the MRSA issue highlighted in recent times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34800/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The prevention and control of health care associated infections, or HCAIs, is a priority issue for the Health Service Executive. Effective infection control measures, including environmental cleanliness and hand hygiene, are central to the control of HCAIs, 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 HCAIs, 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.

The results of the national hygiene audit have now been published. These 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 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.

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.