§ Mr. Andrew WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reported staphylococcus aureus cases have occurred in each health board area in the past five years; and what advice his Department gives as to how cases should be dealt with.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 9 March 1993]: The number of cases of multiple-resistant staphylococcus aureus confirmed by microbiological testing and reported to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit in each of the last five years was as follows:
Health Board Number of cases reported 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Argyll and Clyde 2 4 8 33 43 Ayrshire and Arran 3 6 7 18 29 Borders — — 4 1 3 Dumfries and Galloway — 1 1 1 1 Fife — — — — — Forth Valley — — — — 15 Grampian — — 1 12 6 Greater Glasgow 89 45 49 163 185 Highland — 1 — — 4 Lanarkshire 11 22 28 35 83 Lothian 10 13 8 15 22 Orkney — — — — — Shetland — — — — — Tayside 7 19 26 62 73 Western Isles — — — — — Totals 122 111 132 340 464 The hospital infection manual, which has been made available for use in both the national health service and the private sector in Scotland, includes detailed guidance on procedures for dealing with any outbreak of this infection in hospitals. I have arranged for copies of the manual to be placed in the Library.