The number of infections with the bloodstream infection MRSA in Irish hospitals was slightly down last year but not to a significant degree, a report has found.
There were 526 cases of MRSA in 53 hospitals in 2007, compared with 572 the previous year - a drop of 8 per cent.
The HSE published data on health care-associated infection (HCAI) in acute public hospitals but warned against making comparisons between hospitals because of different levels of patient activity and differences in the clinical services they provide.
It also said the data provided by the hospitals and collated in the report did not take account of different methodology applied by the hospitals in collecting it.
St James’s Hospital in Dublin had 61 MRSA infections, down from 65 in 2006. Beaumont Hospital reported 50 cases of the bug in 2007, representing a rate of 0.22 per 1,000 bed days used. That figure showed an improvement on the hospital’s 70 MRSA cases the previous year.
Also in Dublin, the Mater hospital reported 40 MRSA infections, up from five the year before. The Mater was also among the hospitals that showed a rise in the number of cases of the bug Staphylococcus aureus, up from 78 in 2006 to 97 last year.
Cork University Hospital reported 39 MRSA cases, down from 43 in 2006.
The HSE report cautions: “The fact that a patient is diagnosed with a bloodstream infection at a given hospital does not indicate that that infection was acquired at that hospital. Many bloodstream infections are acquired in the community, but only diagnosed on admission to hospital. Likewise, a patient may have acquired a bloodstream infection in one hospital, but the infection may only be diagnosed on transfer to another hospital.”
The report also notes that hospitals that have a high frequency of taking blood samples are more likely to diagnose bloodstream infections.
On hand hygiene measures, the report says there was significant rise of 43 per cent in the amount of anti-bacterial handrub used in hospitals to prevent infection last year.
But it says this measurement is an inexact way of measuring hand hygiene and that detailed audits of hand hygiene measures are needed.
Today’s figures were released weeks after Dublin county coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty called for the appointment of a microbiologist at St Columcille’s hospital in Loughlinstown, where 16 patients died from infections including MRSA and Clostridium Difficile (C diff) over seven months last year.
Cathriona Molloy, of lobby group Patient Focus, said although the reduction in infections was welcome the size of the drop was disappointing.
“These figures show a lot more work still needs to be done,” she said. “No data has been received from some of the hospitals, so you have to be curious if the figures are realistic and why no information was received from these hospitals.
“We have heard a lot about the number of people contracting C diff in Loughlinstown recently, but that infection has not come under this report. However, C diff has since been made a notable infection - it will have to be listed in next year’s figures.”
MRSA is a particular strain of the bacteria staphylococcus aureus that has become resistant to treatment with the antibiotic methicillin. Staphylococcus aureus is often found on the skin of healthy individuals.
It is estimated that 25-30 per cent of people have the bug living harmlessly on their skin. Problems can occur when it gets under the surface, through a cut or graze.
MRSA is spread by human contact, but can also be spread by an infected person touching sheets, bedclothes and dressings. Those who are already ill are more likely to develop the infection.
Fine Gael's health spokeswoman in the Seanad Frances Fitzgerald said the report was evidence of "poor progress in reducing levels of MRSA" and she noted it did not include information on C. Diff.
“Much work needs to be done on collecting data on C.Diff and I am repeating my call for a ‘search and destroy’ policy on superbugs. This involves the capacity for isolation which many hospitals don’t have thanks to Government broken promises on beds. However, those hospitals that can, should institute it immediately and it should ultimately be our aim for all our hospitals."
Additional reporting: PA