A potentially fatal superbug is widespread in Irish hospitals and nursing homes and requires significant additional staffing and resources to deal with it, according to draft guidelines published today.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that resides on the skin or in the nose of about a third of healthy individuals. It is not harmful unless it enters the blood stream either through a cut or surgery leading to infection and if it reaches the lungs, pneumonia.
The guidelines on the control and prevention of MRSA were produced under the Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland.
Significantly higher levels of the bug exist in Irish hospitals compared to other European countries and the guidelines note that resources available to control the bacterium here are inadequate.
They also highlight the need for more microbiologists and infection nurses and recommends early screening of vulnerable patients and more careful use of antibiotics.
To control the spread of the bug, the guidelines recommend hospitals have one isolation room for every 6-7 beds, have adequate space between beds, and highlight the importance of hand-hygiene among staff caring for patients.
They stress that hospital chief executives must take responsibility for the standard of hygiene in their hospital.
Commenting on the document Mr Steven McMahon of the Irish Patients' Association said: "MRSA is a deadly genie loose in our hospitals and we must put in back in the bottle."
"What's needed is more than band aid solutions but joined up management to tackle this serious problem. It's more than clean hands, more than isolation beds, more than appropriate drug prescribing - it's a safety culture at all levels."
The Department of Health had no comment to make on the matter this morning.