HSE considers enforcing hospital hand-washing to tackle MRSA

ENSURING everyone entering a hospital washes their hands or uses an alcohol-based hand gel to stop the spread of MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bacteria is being considered by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

HSE chief executive, Prof Brendan Drumm, told yesterday’s meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children that their main focus was on the promotion of good hand hygiene and the prudent use of antibiotics.

Prof Drumm said MRSA was now highly prevalent in the community at large and the health authority.