MRSA infections up 7% to 592 last year
05/07/2006 - 08:38:55The number of hospital patients infected with the MRSA 'superbug' reportedly increased by almost 40 last year.
Reports this morning said figures released under the Freedom of Information Act showed that 592 patients contracted the illness in 2005, compared to 553 in 2004.
The largest number (58) were reportedly recorded at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.
This morning’s reports said the figures disclosed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre also show that more than 1,200 patients were diagnosed last year with another infection that the head of the HSE has described as "a bigger killer than MRSA".
The infection, Clostridium Diifficile, is reportedly associated with the use of antibiotics and can be life-threatening in severe cases.
