Madam, - I was interested to read that the number of MRSA-related deaths in Britain for the year 2004 was 1,168, and that 360 deaths were caused by MRSA alone (Guardian, February 23rd).
This immediately prompts the question of how many similar deaths occur in Ireland each year. The answer is simply that we don't know. It is impossible to get such figures; and the facts that the screening for MRSA is patchy, that many people are not told when they are diagnosed, and that MRSA frequently does not appear on a death certificate when it has been a factor in a death would make such figures meaningless anyway.
It is also worrying to know that the HSE has undertaken to take part in a survey later this year on the "Prevalence of Healthcare Associated Infections". This is supposed to enable comparisons to be made with the situation in the UK, and accurate data to be supplied here.
Before our money is wasted on such a venture, the least that should happen is that the policy on screening for MRSA should be standardised throughout the State so that some reliance can be placed on the figures gathered. It would also help if the guidelines about putting MRSA on a death certificate was clarified. The time for ignoring this problem in the hope that it will go away is over. - Yours, etc,
Dr TERESA GRAHAM, MRSA and Families, Meadowbrook, Tramore, Co Waterford.