A new organisation that aims to provide information about Health Care Acquired Infections (HCAI) to cut their incidence was announced today.
Stop Infections Now (Sin), under chairwoman Dr Teresa Graham, is seeking to inform those using and working in the health care service about these infections through the philosophy "knowledge is power".
According to Sin, between 600 and 800 people die annually from the MRSA bacterium and Clostridium Difficile, with a treatment cost of €200 million.
Speaking in Dublin at the unveiling of Sin, Dr Graham said that although there were already patient-advocacy groups, this had not changed the incidence of health-care acquired infections.
"What we are looking for is a revolution . . . that the people of Ireland take ownership of their own health service.
"Our incidence of hospital acquired infections are one of the worst in Europe. There is no point, the HSE does, comparing us with Britain. They are alongside us," Dr Graham said.
She said Ireland had instead to look at the best practice of countries such as the Netherlands, and that legislation was required to ensure hospitals have the highest standards of hygiene.
According to Dr Graham, people were losing trust in the health care system and were "absolutely terrified" about taking legal cases for medical negligence.
Alongside her, lawyer Gerald Kean said that a detailed 1995 report had carried recommendations on tackling HCAIs but that nothing was done. “Let’s stop wasting time, let’s stop bluffing . . . there’s a problem there, and it has to be dealt with,” he added.
A leaflet published by Sin lists 15 steps to cut the risk of hospital-acquired infection and offers advice on making a complaint and seeking redress. The organisation is looking to make this leaflet available in hospitals and doctors surgeries. An informational CD has also been produced and a website, www.stopinfectionsnow.com, has been created.
New draft national standards for infection prevention and control published in June by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) recommended a major increase in the number of clinical microbiologists and infection-control nurses employed in the State.
According to a HIQA spokesman, the body intends to bring have these ready for ministerial approval toward the end of the year.
The HSE said Ireland's health care-associated infection figure of 4.9 per cent compares favourably with figures for other countries.
It noted that MRSA rates are higher but pointed out that the "vast majority" of patients who develop MRSA recover. The HSE added that C-Diff is now a notifiable disease since May 4th this year.
The HSE established a National Health Care Associated Infection Governance Committee just over a year ago, and over the next three to five years, the HSE, under this committee is aiming to cut these Infections by 20 per cent and reduce MRSA infections by 30 per cent.
