Irish hospitals cleaner than in Britain

IRISH hospitals are cleaner than those in England, Wales and the North, a new survey revealed yesterday.

A study of more than 75,000 beds showed 4.9% of patients in acute hospitals in Ireland suffered potentially life-threatening infections while being treated.

The average across Britain and Ireland was 7.6%.

Inspectors checked for diseases such as the MRSA superbug, pneumonia and blood poisoning in the survey.

Infections were more prevalent in the older age groups, the study found.

Dr Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director of population health with the HSE, said while the results were good for the country more could be done.

“These results give a detailed picture of hospital associated infection in Ireland and allow some comparison with similar institutions in the UK,” he said.

“Without doubt there is a lot more to be done and the HSE is committed to doing all it can to reduce this rate.”

The results were contained in the third prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections in acute hospitals, carried out between February and May 2006 by the Britain and Ireland-based Hospital Infection Society. More detailed analysis will be published later in the year.