MRSA infections cost Irish hospitals more than €23 million annually, a report has found.
The MRSA in Ireland report, published today, was conducted by a multidisciplinary advisory group including microbiologists, hospital pharmacists and patient advocates, and sponsored by healthcare firm Pfizer.
It found the cost of dealing with healthcare associated infections (HCAI) totalled €233.75 million a year, with the MRSA cost representing 10 per cent of the overall figure.
The main factor contributing to the cost is the increased length of stay by patients in the hospital, it found.
Patients with such an infection stayed in hospital 2.5 times longer than those who did not and were 7.1 times more likely to die, the report found.
Ireland ranks fourth in Europe for MRSA bloodstream infection (BSI) rates at 33.1 per cent, with only Portugal, Greece and Italy ahead. Provisional data for the first nine months of last year show a decline to 28 per cent, the lowest level since recordings began in 1999. But the report urges caution pending confirmation of the trend in the long term.
Consultant microbiologist at Beaumont Hospital and chairman of the MRSA group, Dr Edmond Smyth, said: “There is good evidence that the burden of MRSA infection in Ireland is greater than in most other European countries and while there are some positive indications that infection rates are declining, MRSA infection is still a major issue resulting in illness and in some cases death.”
Dr Smyth said discharging patients helps to reduce incidents of the infection. “The evidence shows that discharging patients earlier reduces the risk of infection which would ultimately reduce illness and death rates,” he said.
Irish Patients’ Association chief executive Stephen McMahon, said it was important that attention continues to be placed on the illness.
“The increased public attention about MRSA infection has resulted in a number of key guidelines and measures being introduced which may be having some beneficial effect,” Mr McMahon said.