Superbugs show growing resistance to antibiotics

HEALTH experts have called for urgent action to limit antibiotic use in hospitals and the community as superbugs other than MRSA show growing resistance to treatment.

New Irish data on bloodstream infections from E coli and E faecium shows growing resistance to antibiotics, reducing treatment options.

Scientists at Ireland's agency for the surveillance of communicable diseases, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), have said excessive use of antibiotics in Irish hospitals is a major factor in the emergence of "multi-drug resistant" strains of the infections.