§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of MRSA have been recorded in each health authority district in Wales in each of the last 12 months. [2987]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsThe available data on the number of reported cases are given in the following table:
Laboratory confirmed cases of MRSA in Wales1 Health Authority area Bro Taf Dyfed Powys Gwent Morgannwg North Wales May 1996 38 19 48 51 34 June 1996 71 14 42 49 29 July 1996 157 27 25 27 32 August 1996 126 10 37 49 28 September 1996 95 15 36 50 26 October 1996 122 20 32 70 55 November 1996 61 8 16 49 45 December 1996 66 21 68 77 55 January 1997 159 29 77 106 86 February 1997 82 42 64 96 91 March 1997 79 34 62 94 63 April 1997 28 27 39 107 85 Source:
CDSC Welsh Unit MRSA Surveillance Programme in Wales.
1 As the reporting of cases by laboratories is a continuous process the level of completeness of the figures shown may vary. 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. Cases where the area of residence of the patient was not provided have been included with data for the Health Authority in which the reporting laboratory is located.