Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of screening and types of technology in use in hospitals to pre-identify the MRSA, C. difficile and other infectious viruses in hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36699/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Tackling all Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs), including MRSA and C. difficile,continues to be a priority for the Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE). HCAIs are not a new phenomenon and have always been a potential complication of medical treatment, especially in hospitals. This is the case worldwide.

The HSE launched a National Infection Control Action Plan in March 2007. The HSE aims over the period of the Plan to reduce HCAIs by 20%, MRSA infection by 30% and antibiotic consumption by 20%. A new National Surveillance System has been established to collect data and provide information on HCAIs in our health system. This data covers four key areas:

1. Staphylococcus bacteraemia (bloodstream infection);

2. Antibiotic consumption;

3. Alcohol gel use; and

4. From 2008 onwards, MRSA Surveillance in Intensive Care Units.

Data in respect of the first three areas has been compiled and published for 2006 and 2007. This report provides essential data that will serve as a benchmark for assessing progress in the future. I firmly believe that you cannot manage what you do not measure. With this system we have now begun a very useful measurement process. The results so far show some improvement in 2007 over 2006. The overall S. Aureus bloodstream infection rate was lower in 2007 (0.36) compared to 2006 (0.37). The overall proportion of MRSA was also lower in 2007 (38.5%) compared to 2006 (42.4%).

It would not be feasible to screen all patients for MRSA on admission to hospital. Where appropriate, selected screening to detect colonisation is carried out on certain groups of patients including those known to be previously positive, patients with non intact skin and those due to undergo elective high-risk surgery. Some specialist hospitals e.g. orthopaedic hospitals operate a full pre-operative testing regime. The data collected for the MRSA surveillance system relates to bloodstream infections. However, the data collected in ICUs covers all infections including bone and wound infections. Since May 4th of this year, C. difficile has become a notifiable disease and all cases now have to be reported to the relevant Department of Public Health. The range identified in the Third Prevalence Survey of Health Care Associated Infections in acute hospitals in 2006 was 0.5% of patients studied. The information available to date shows that the incidence now is consistent with the results of the 2006 survey.

Screening is also undertaken for a range of other viruses and bacteria where indicated and these include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, TB etc.

While accepting that not all HCAIs are preventable, I am satisfied that significant steps are being taken to reduce the rates of HCAIs generally by the application of strict infection prevention and control practices and precautions.