MRSA superbug on the increase in the province

Incidents involving the MRSA superbug are on the increase in Northern Ireland, according to the findings of two reports published into the rates of infection in the province’s hospitals.

The reports relating to MRSA infection were released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC).

NISRA published an analysis of deaths recorded on death certificates over the seven years from 1997-2003 where MRSA was recorded as a contributory factor, while the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) collated figures to help the Department of health assess the scale of MRSA infection in Northern Ireland.

The numbers of deaths involving MRSA in Northern Ireland over the seven year period covered by the NISRA report total 116, with 73% of those deaths occurring in the over-75 age group.

The CDSC statistics also showed that levels of infection found in hospitals has risen, with more than 300 cases were discovered among patients in the last 12 months, compared just under 500 cases reported between 2001 and 2003.

Responding to the reports, Dr Lorraine Doherty, the Department of Health’s Senior Medical Officer in charge of Communicable Diseases, said: “The figures produced today by CDSC, reinforced by those of NISRA, indicate a continuing upward trend in the incidence of both MRSA and other bloodstream infections in Northern Ireland.

“The level of MRSA in our hospitals remains a matter of great concern both to patients and professionals and we are addressing it in many ways which we hope will curb its rate of growth. However, it is not always possible to observe clear improvements from such measures. We are not complacent and have in hand further developments such as the recently announced the development of an infection control strategy for Northern Ireland.

“It is clear from these figures that some parts of the health service have to do more to control this threat and match the achievements of hospitals which maintain low MRSA rates. It is an important reminder that everyone needs to keep infection control at the top of their agenda.”

The Department has commissioned four research projects in the area of antimicrobial resistance, including a focus on the factors involved in the success or failure of MRSA decolonisation.

(CL)