New national hygiene standards are to be introduced in a bid to combat the increased threat from deadly superbugs in hospitals, it emerged today.
With more than 500 cases of the potentially fatal MRSA bug reported last year, health officials revealed new measures are to be developed to keep wards free from infections.
The move comes after it emerged a more virulent strain of MRSA was detected in Ireland for the first time.
And figures published last month showed up to 8,000 people contracted some form of a superbug while in hospital.
The Irish Health Services Accreditation Board (IHSAB), the body which oversees the quality of our hospitals, said it had been asked by the Minister for Health Mary Harney to develop improved hygiene standards.
Roisin Boland, IHSAB chief executive said shortfalls in cleanliness had to be addressed. "We will work with the Health Services Executive to develop standards to address hygiene and the subsequent problem that arise from shortfalls in this area like MRSA and post-operation infections," she said.
"Discussion is ongoing between ourselves and the HSE and we hope to have standards in place by the end of 2005."
It is hoped the new standards will be in place by the end of the year.