HC Deb 15 May 2002 vol 385 c725W
Paul Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the percentage changes in the incidence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in(a) the NHS and (b) the private sector in each of the past five years. [54015]

Yvette Cooper

The mandatory reporting of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias by national health service acute trusts began in April 2001. The system does not cover private hospitals. The data are published quarterly in the CDR Weekly. The data collected so far can be used as baselines only and do not indicate trends.

Laboratory reports of staphylococcus aureus isolated from blood and their susceptibility to methicillin: England and Wales, annual totals 1997–2001
Total reports Susceptibility not reported Sensitive to methicillin Resistant to methicillin (MRSA) Total susceptibility reported Percentage (MRSA)
19971 9,328 1,719 5,312 2,297 7,609 30.2
19981 9,374 1,746 5,020 2,608 7,628 34.2
19991 10,813 1,848 5,624 3,341 8,965 37.2
20001 11,635 1,667 5,792 4,176 9,968 42.0
20012 12,631 1,238 6,626 4,767 11,392 41.8
1 Corrected data (PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre 1999–2000 Review of Communicable Diseases)
2Provisional data (CDR Weekly)