The NDSC report also refers to MRSA, the hospital superbug, stating that the proportion remained high in Ireland compared to other European countries - and the winter vomiting bug which affected 5,000 people in hospital last year.
For her part, the Minister for Health, Ms Harney, said MRSA was causing particular concern. "It is quite incredible that we still have to operate in an environment where doctors and nurses have to be reminded of the importance of hand hygiene."
The proposed new Health Information and Equality Authority would set standards in the health area including stopping MRSA, she said.
The director, Dr Darina O'Flanagan, said endemic diseases also continued to cause problems. E.coli 0157 remained a serious concern with 86 confirmed cases in 2003.
There was a higher incidence rate of influenza in young children last year. Measles also increased. In 2003, SARS emerged but none of the 50 cases investigated in the State was caused by the virus. Its rapid transmission around the world served as a warning to improve public health infrastructure and hospital infection control systems, Dr O'Flanagan said.