One in 20 patients in the Republic's hospitals will leave with a healthcare related infection, while one in 200 runs the risk of becoming very seriously ill as a result of their stay in hospital, according to a survey commissioned yesterday by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The figures contained in a survey by the UK-based Hospital Infection Society came as the HSE announced the setting up of a new taskforce to combat the spread of healthcare associated infections such as MRSA.
The survey revealed almost one-third, or 32 per cent, of hospitals in the Republic's 28 general hospitals had patients with MRSA related illnesses.
The situation was even worse in the 10 regional/tertiary hospitals surveyed, with seven of the hospitals having patients with MRSA related infections.
The analysis was nevertheless welcomed by the HSE which pointed out that "of the six specialist hospitals surveyed 100 per cent, had no patients with MRSA related infections." The HSE maintained that overall "more than 90 per cent of patients" did not catch a serious infection while in hospital". The executive argues that figures for healthcare-acquired infections in the Republic were lower than those in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
But Fine Gael Senator Fergal Browne the party's Seanad spokesman on health and children said that "the cases of MRSA are being under-reported." "Last year there were 572,000 inpatients - half of these were over 65, were elderly and are more prone to getting MRSA , and 285,482 were admitted through accident and emergency.
Therefore the figure of 557 cases of MRSA as stated would indicate a rate of 0.09 per cent, not 0.5 per cent as claimed by the HSE, he said.
"While there may be some repeat patients, it is fair to say that the number of patients with MRSA could be around 2,000. I think we can definitely say that the cases of MRSA are being under-reported."
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey said the study revealed one in 200 patients in the Republic did catch a serious infection while in hospital.
Dr Twomey also said the survey also showed there had been no reduction in the levels of MRSA in Irish hospitals.
He said the survey "placed an emphasis on four major sites of infection - primary bloodstream infection, pneumonia, urinary tract infection and surgical site infection. The results mean that one in every 200 patients is contracting a very serious infection . . ."
The families of MRSA victims have called on the public to make the so called 'hospital bug' an election issue over the coming months.
Margaret Dawson who organised a new family network branch at the Imperial Hotel in Cork this week said politicians need to be challenged on the doorsteps.
The HSE insisted the Republic's healthcare associated infection rates are "relatively low", particularly when compared to other European countries, the USA and Australia. But it admitted that in comparison to countries such as Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands, Ireland does not feature well.
