§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of MRSA have been recorded in each health authority district in Scotland in each of the last 12 months. [2980]
§ Mr. Galbraith[holding answer 11 June 1997]: Information on the total number of cases of infection or colonisation with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is not collected centrally in Scotland.
The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health receives isolates submitted voluntarily by hospitals in Scotland. The following table shows the numbers of isolates received for the 12 months to May 1997 for each Scottish health board area. Several isolates may be taken from a single patient on one occasion or at different times.
1995 1996 1997 Aberdeen 13 18 6 Barlinnie — 1 1 Cornton Vale — 1 3 Edinburgh 10 11 11 Greenock 67 65 54 Inverness 1 — — Longriggend — — 3 Perth — 1 —