'Hospitals lack key MRSA personnel'

ALMOST half of Irish hospitals are without key personnel central to the detection of the potentially fatal MRSA superbug.

In addition, around 10 hospitals have no infection control nurses, according to Dr Robert Cunney, consultant microbiologist with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

Contrary to the general public's perception, Dr Cunney also said physical hygiene in hospitals is "not a major factor" in the spread of the superbug - but "if a hospital is clean, it usually indicates other things are going well".