§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the prevalence of and frequency of infection by MRSA in NHS hospitals. [135014]
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Methicillin Resistant Staphycoccocus Aureus were reported in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) Devon; and if he will make a statement. [135141]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) compiles aggregate data on the numbers of incidents of MRSA which are voluntarily submitted by trusts for specialist microbiological tests. The PHLS also compiles data on blood stream and other serious infections caused by Staphylococcus Aureus in hospitals and the community, reported by microbiology laboratories. Figures for England are given in the tables. From April 2001 all acute trusts will produce data on the prevalence of hospital-acquired infection, including MRSA, to provide a more complete picture of the situation. This information will be published in 2002–03. Matters relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are for their respective devolved Administrations.
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Incidents of MRSA and rates per 100,000 population 1997–2000 Numbers 1997 Anglia and Oxford 297 North Thames 544 North West 259 Northern and Yorkshire 224 South and West 254 South Thames 385 Trent 123 West Midlands 102 Wales 176 Total 2,364 1998 Anglia and Oxford 223 North Thames 289 North West 215 Northern and Yorkshire 202 South and West 101 South Thames 220 Trent 109 West Midlands 69 Wales 169 Total 1,597 1999 Eastern 80 London 290 Northern and Yorkshire 170 North West 180 South East 170 South West 40 Trent 100 West Midlands 30 Wales 130 Total 1,190
Incidents of MRSA and rates per 100,000 population 1997–2000 Numbers 2000 Eastern 30 London 100 Northern and Yorkshire 40 North West 50 South East 60 South West 10 Trent 30 West Midlands 30 Wales 30 Total 380 Notes:
1. For the first half of 1997 data have been amalgamated to the approximate boundaries of the new Regional Office areas. This allows for comparison with subsequent years.
2. Data for 2000 is for January-June only.
3. An incident is three or more patients infected or colonised by the same strain of MRSA in the same month from the same hospital.
4. The criteria for submission of isolates of MRSA (and other isolates of staphylococcus aureus) to the PHLS for specialist tests have been revised twice since 1996 (in January 1998 and in January 2000). These revised criteria have led to a fall in the number of incidents of MRSA that were reported to the PHLS.
Laboratory reports of staphylococcus aureus isolated from blood 1999 2000 South-west region Total report 1,010 644 Sensitive to methicillin 591 314 Percentage 59 49 Resistant to methicillin 294 211 Percentage 29 33 Susceptibility not reported 125 119 Percentage 12 18 England Total report 9,373 5,697 Sensitive to methicillin 4,934 2,661 Percentage 53 47 Resistant to methicillin 2,804 1,919 Percentage 30 34 Susceptibility not reported 1,635 1,117 Percentage 17 20