HC Deb 11 March 1997 vol 292 cc172-4W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost to the NHS of treating those infected with MRSA in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [19870]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The information requested is not held centrally.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many registered cases of MRSA there have been in each NHS trust area in each of the last five years; how many of these resulted in death; and if he will make a statement. [19873]

Mr. Jones

Information on the number of registered cases in each NHS trust is not available centrally. The available data on the number of reported cases for Wales as a whole are shown in the following table. Reliable information on deaths is not centrally available.

Laboratory confirmed cases of MRSA in Wales1
Number
1994 535
1995 443
19962 2,667

Source

CDSC Welsh Unit MRSA Surveillance Programme in Wales.

Notes:

1Completeness of reporting by laboratory is variable. Data may include some GP referrals. The number indicated are patients identified with MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). Only a proportion of these will have clinical illness (estimated at 50 per cent.) due to MRSA infection. The remainder will be carriers of the organism.

2 Provisional. In 1996, increased emphasis was placed on reporting and additional features were requested.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the last outbreak of MRSA occurred in a Welsh hospital; how many people(a) were affected and (b) died; and if he will make a statement. [19871]

Mr. Jones

The most recent information reported to the Welsh nosocomial infection study/hospital outbreak reporting scheme indicates that three hospitals recorded MRSA outbreaks in January 1997 affecting a total of 11 patients. It should be noted that participation by laboratories is voluntary and that not all returns for January have been received. Data on deaths are not collected centrally under this scheme.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the cause of the recent MRSA outbreaks in Welsh hospitals; what proposals he has to reduce the number of cases; and if he will make a statement. [19872]

Mr. Jones

Information on the source of outbreaks of hospital acquired infections is not held centrally. Extensive guidance on infection control procedures has already been issued to the NHS in Wales. Initiatives underway, to ensure that cases of hospital acquired infection, including MRSA, are kept to a minimum, include a three-year study on nosocomial infections being undertaken by the Public Health Laboratory Service (Wales) and the MRSA surveillance project being undertaken by the communicable disease surveillance centre (Welsh unit).

These studies will provide valuable information for use in determining future action to reduce the incidence of MRSA.