Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps which have been taken to address the ongoing issue of MRSA infections; when she expects to have the matter under control; the instructions given in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2980/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of confirmed cases of MRSA to date in 2006; the hospitals in which same have occurred; the action which was taken to prevent a recurrence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3268/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 345: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps which have been taken on her instructions to combat the incidents of MRSA; if the results have been monitored in any or all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3270/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 343 and 345 together.

For the purposes of the surveillance, prevention and control of this infection 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, EARSS. The EARSS collects data on the first episode of blood stream infection per patient per quarter. It was designed to allow comparison of antimicrobial resistance data between countries and possibly regions but not between hospitals. Data in respect of the first quarter of 2006 is not yet available.

The publication of the revised SARI guidelines on the control and prevention of MRSA in hospitals and in the community, the Clean Hands Campaign, the national hygiene audits and the development of national standards in relation to infection control and hospital hygiene are some of the measures aimed at bringing about change in the hospital system. The HSE has announced that the second national hygiene audit of acute hospitals will commence in February and will assess the extent of the improvements made at hospital level since the inspections last year.

I recently wrote to the Health Service Executive in relation to the communication of information to patients infected with MRSA, the discharge from hospital of patients with MRSA and the national policy on hospital visiting times. The HSE is presently considering how best to ensure that good practice and the proper procedures are followed in such circumstances. It is now a matter for the HSE to continue to develop and implement the necessary strategies needed to ensure the effective control of health care associated infections including MRSA.