Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Health the number of reported incidents of MRSA or similarly transmittable infections that have been reported throughout public and private hospitals in each of the past five years to date; the degree to which action has been taken to tackle the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18158/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) continue to be a challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Ireland is not unique in this regard and tackling HCAIs, including MRSA, continues to be a priority for the Government and for the Health Service Executive (HSE).

A National Infection Control Action Plan, launched by the HSE in 2007, aims to reduce HCAIs by 20%, MRSA infection by 30% and antibiotic consumption by 20%. The number of MRSA bloodstream infections across the public and private hospital sector for the past five years have decreased from 588 cases in 2006 to 355 cases in 2009 (a decrease of 40%) and to 304* cases in 2010. This shows a decrease in such infections of 48% between 2006 and 2010 * (note that % figures for 2010 are provisional).

Data on alcohol hand gel usage which is an important part of the hygiene effort shows a twofold increase from 2006 to 2009. The Guidelines for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Hospital in Ireland aim to promote the sensible prescribing of antibiotics.

Since May 4th, 2008, C.difficile is a notifiable disease: all cases have to be reported to the relevant Department of Public Health. The number of cases in 2008 (04/05/2008 to 31/12/2008) was 1,615, 1,895 cases in 2009 (full year), 1,698 in 2010 (full year) and 903 in 2011 to date. The full year comparisons between 2009 and 2010 indicate a 10% decrease in the number of cases. Guidelines for the Surveillance, Management and Control of C.difficile associated Disease were published in May, 2008. In December, 2008 the HSE published new Environmental Building Guidelines to inform infection control policy in all new builds and refurbishments.

In May 2009, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections. These Standards include all key areas of importance in the control of HCAIs and the Health Service Executive (HSE) is working to ensure that its healthcare facilities meet the requirements set down in the National Standards.

I wish to advise the Deputy that carbapenem resistant enterbacteriaceae (CRE) has been reported from 20 patients in four hospitals in Ireland since January 2011. Interim national guidelines for patient screening, laboratory detection and infection prevention have been circulated pending the publication of formal national guidelines, currently in preparation. Cases of CRE are now notifiable to the relevant Department of Public Health and it is proposed to add invasive CRE infection to the list of notifiable diseases.

The recent WHO Hand Hygiene Day on 5th May last built on the successful WHO Clean Care is Safer Care campaign to galvanise hand hygiene at the point of patient care, thus helping to reduce the spread of HCAIs. As part of the day's actions, healthcare facilities worldwide demonstrated their continued commitment by signing up to the global movement and undertaking and sharing locally driven activities on hand hygiene improvements at the point of patient care. I am pleased to state that some 85 HSE healthcare facilities signed up to the initiative which demonstrates Irish healthcare personnel's commitment to the control and eradication of HCAIs.

I am satisfied that significant steps are being taken to reduce the rates of Healthcare Associated Infections and to treat them promptly when they occur.