Many Irish hospitals are still only meeting minimum international hygiene standards, a conference heard today.
The second Clean Hospital Summit in Dublin was organised by the Irish Patients' Association (IPA) in association with the HSE and the Department of Health and Children, and was opened by Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Many Irish hospitals still only meet minimum hygiene requirements - IPA. Image: Bryan O'Brien.
IPA chairman Stephen McMahon said Irish hospitals had made "considerable progress" in preventing hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA in recent years but that many were still only meeting minimum international hygiene standards.
He said the results of the last national audit of hospital hygiene saw "strong improvement" with 80 per cent of hospitals now achieving international best standards compared with less than 10 per cent in the first audit.
"The least we should expect is that our hospitals should be meeting international standards. We now need to drive towards achieving world-class excellence," he said.
"The next national hygiene audit is well under way and the results will be published towards the end of the year," Mr McMahon added.
According to the IPA, there were 592 reported cases of MRSA infection in hospitals last year.
Mr McMahon said the three "achievable and necessary" goals for the next 12 months should be the substantial reduction of MRSA bloodstream infections, confirmation of 100 per cent compliance by hospitals with minimum standards and the publication of infection control standards.