MRSA death rate increased in 2003

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has reported that MRSA death increased in 2003.

The latest ONS figures showed that MRSA mentions on death certificates increased by 19% between 2002 and 2003. However, the ONS believes that the increase might be partly due to better reporting of the disease, due to the increasing attention surrounding it. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that laboratory reports of the 'superbug' only increased by 7% during the same time period.

The figures also showed that MRSA seemed to affect older age groups most. In 2003, mortality rates for deaths involving MRSA in those aged 85 and over were 437.1 and 220.8 deaths per million of the population, for males and females respectively. These figures compared to 0.9 deaths per million in males under 45 and 0.6 per million in females in the same age groups.

Health Secretary John Reid announced plans to reduce the number of MRSA infections in hospitals by half by 2008, last November.

Commenting on the latest figures, Conservative leader Michael Howard said: "Mr Blair's obsession with targets has created a culture in which the superbug thrives. According to a National Audit Office report, more than one in 10 infection control teams reported that their recommendation to close a ward or hospital to clean up the super bug was refused or discouraged by the chief executive because of – and I quote – 'pressure on meeting performance targets'. This means that patients are dying because of Mr Blair's targets."

Mr Howard added: "Florence Nightingale said that 'the very first requirement in hospital is that it should do the sick no harm'. Under Mr Blair our hospitals are failing in that most basic duty. Britain is a first class country. We deserve a first class health service."

(KMcA/SP)