Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the hospitals in Wales that have recorded incidents of MRSA—methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus—since 1990; and how many patients suffered in each incident. [39020]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 22 January,Official Report, column 102. Data available from the MRSA surveillance project under way in Wales need to be addressed with caution. Data from this project are shown in the following table:
406W
Laboratory confirmed cases of MRSA in Wales Laboratory 1994 1995 1996 Bangor Public Health Laboratory 92 132 113 Bridgend Princess of Wales 0 0 12 Bronglais Hospital 9 25 28
Laboratory confirmed cases of MRSA in Wales Laboratory 1994 1995 1996 Caerphilly Hospital 18 29 55 Cardiff Public Health Laboratory 5 29 55 Cardiff Royal Infirmary 179 0 0 Carmarthen Public Health Laboratory 18 36 49 East Glamorgan Hospital 0 0 0 Llandough Hospital 104 19 204 Llanelli Prince Phillip 18 0 0 Merthyr Prince Charles 80 93 50 Nevill Hall 1 0 145 Newport Royal Gwent 2 2 53 Rhyl Public Health Laboratory 3 4 31 Swansea Morriston 9 0 0 Swansea Singleton 2 65 219 Withybush Hospital 1 0 13 Wrexham 0 8 149 Wales 541 442 1,176 Source:
CDSC Welsh Unit MRSA Surveillance Programme in Wales.
Notes:
Data on MRSA collected during the period 1994 to 22 July 1996.
Completeness of reporting by laboratory is variable.
Increased emphasis was placed on reporting in 1996 and additional features requested.
Data may include some GP referrals.
The numbers indicated are patients identified with MRSA. 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.