Prof Hilary Humphreys, consultant microbiologist and chairman of the National Committee, Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland.
Healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) affects one in 20 patients admitted to hospitals in Ireland.
Many infections are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA, and result in deaths and patient suffering.
HCAI involves considerable costs to the healthcare system, to patients and their families.
Ireland has high rates of MRSA and there is no national surveillance system to routinely monitor HCAI, a requirement under European law.
The Strategy for the control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland (SARI) was launched in April 2001.
In the interim, there has been poor progress in its implementation, with major gaps in personnel and facilities for the care of patients, such as single rooms for patient isolation.
My hopes for 2007 include the full implementation of SARI and the development of a national surveillance system for HCAI with the results being released to the public.
I also hope the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive will acknowledge, through action, that the prevention of HCAI is a top priority.
Finally, at a more general level I would like to see decisions being taken and action ensuing far more rapidly than has been the case heretofore in our health system.
In conversation with Sylvia Thompson