asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) type infections have been reported in Northern Ireland by the Department of Health and health trusts in the years 2003 to 2005 and in the first two quarters of 2006.[HL455]
The number of meticillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias reported by each individual trust from 2003 to 2005 and from January to June 2006 are shown in the table below.
Trust 2003 2004 2005 2006 (Jan-June) Altnagelvin Hospitals 17 22 21 8 Belfast City Hospital 55 47 39 17 Causeway 9 9 10 7 Craigavon Area Hospital Group 25 24 20 11 Down Lisburn 12 17 7 2 Green Park 5 2 3 3 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 25 9 23 14 Newry & Mourne 10 5 3 1 Royal Group of Hospitals 42 44 49 25 Sperrin Lakeland 15 16 6 6 Ulster Community & Hospitals 23 34 25 19 United Hospitals 46 41 37 21 Northern Ireland 284 270 243 134 Source: Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland (CDSC (NI)) Methicillin has recently been renamed meticillin to comply with European law, which requires the use of the recommended international non-proprietary name (rINN).
asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many deaths in Northern Ireland can be attributed to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); and what steps are being taken to prevent MRSA-type infections.[HL456]
Causes of death are classified by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) but the current version does not have a specific code for MRSA. The latest data available are for the registration year 2005. MRSA was mentioned on 69 death certificates registered during 2005, of which 17 recorded MRSA as the primary cause of death.
The department's Changing the Culture action plan on the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections was published in March 2006. It requires trusts to hold a hand hygiene campaign this winter and produce an annual infection reduction plan.
Recent steps taken to combat healthcare-associated infections in Northern Ireland have included the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's Ward Sisters Charter, launched in October 2006. Under the charter, and among its 10 commitments, ward sisters have the authority to create a cleanliness culture within their ward environment, and they will also encourage patients and visitors to monitor and report on standards of cleanliness.