81% reduction in MRSA in the Mater Hospital testament to staff commitment

Fine Gael Dublin Central Deputy and Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe TD, has welcomed the reduction in the number of cases of MRSA at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, which fell by 81% last year.

Minister Donohoe said that this is testament to improved patient safety measures that have been put in place to reduce the number of infections and the commitment of the staff in ensuring those practices are adhered to.

“In 2010, 21 cases of MRSA were recorded at the Mater Hospital. That figured peaked at 26 in 2012. Last year just five cases were recorded, giving an overall year on year reduction of 81% last year compared to 2012.

“This progress mirrors the picture nationally, as the figures from the Department of Health show that MRSA is at its lowest level since records began. We now have a situation whereby the number of people with MRSA in our hospitals (222) was half what it was in 2007 (536). The fact that 222 people were recorded last year, however, indicates that there is no room for complacency and that there is more work to be done.

“There are now 19 hospitals across the State that are not recording any cases of MRSA infections; among them is the Mater Private, which has recorded no cases for the last three years.

“The Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly TD, and the Government, take this issue very seriously, and are firmly of the mind that no-one should end up sicker in hospital than they were when they first went in.

“The credit in tackling this issue must go primarily to the hospital staff and healthcare workers and professionals who have been working hard to eradicate the prevalence of MRSA infections in our hospitals. Our patients have a right to feel safe when being admitted to hospital. These figures signal that we are making serious headway to that end.”

ENDS