MRSA rate of 14% is highest in Europe

SURGICAL patients infected with the MRSA superbug spend on average an extra 18 days in hospital compared with patients who undergo surgery but are MRSA-free.

These prolonged hospital stays are not only a huge cost to the health service, but are putting considerable additional pressure on beds already in short supply, according to Fine Gael Seanad health spokesperson Senator Frances Fitzgerald.

Ms Fitzgerald yesterday published a study on MRSA rates in Ireland, which claims we have one of the highest rates at 14.6% in Europe, where the average rate is 3.8%.