Hansard

Death: MRSA

Volume 485: debated on Thursday 11 December 2008

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David Simpson

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many death certificates on which (a) MRSA and (b) clostridium difficile were mentioned were issued in England and Wales in each of the last three years. (240568)

Kevin Brennan

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated December 2008:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many death certificates were issued in England and Wales on which (a) MRSA and (b) Clostridium difficile were mentioned in each of the last three years. (24G568)

The table attached provides the number of deaths where (a) MRSA or (b) Clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate, in 2005 to 2007 (the latest year available).

Table 1: Number of deaths where Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)1 or Clostridium difficile2 was mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, 2005 to 26073

Persons

MRSA

Clostridium difficile

2005

1,649

3,757

2006

1,652

6,480

2007

1,593

8,324

1 Identified using the methodology described in Griffiths C, Lamagni TL, Crowcroft NS, Duckworth G and Rooney C (2004). Trends in MRSA in England and Wales: analysis of morbidity and mortality data for 1993-2002. Health Statistics Quarterly 21, 15-22.

2 Identified using the methodology described in Office for National Statistics: Report: Deaths involving Clostridium difficile: England and Wales, 2001-2005. Health Statistics Quarterly 33, 71-75.

3 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.