Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the guidelines that exist governing hospital health workers who contract MRSA or VRE whilst carrying out their duties; and if, in the case of students, either medical or nursing, during their training her Department will pay for the time out or change of course if they cannot continue with their training. [15089/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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MRSA and VRE do not generally cause illness in healthy people so health care staff do not fall into a risk category for contracting MRSA and VRE. However, they may be carriers. With regard to carriage of MRSA it is often transient and is not believed to contribute significantly to the spread of MRSA. Therefore, the screening of staff on a routine basis is generally not indicated. Staff screening may be considered for institutions without endemic MRSA or for specific high-risk units as determined by the local infection control team.

The issue of medical or nursing students being unable to continue with their training as a result of contracting MRSA or VRE should not arise for the reasons outlined above.

There is no record to date of any employee or student contracting MRSA or an associated illness while employed by the Health Service Executive. In the event of this happening, the staff member would be referred to the Occupational Health Department for appropriate treatment.