Ireland has highest rate of life-threatening superbug

IRELAND now has the highest rate of the life-threatening superbug vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in Europe.

Consultant microbiologist at the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dr Robert Cunney, said there were 152 cases of VRE bloodstream infections reported in Ireland last year – a 47% increase over a five-year period.

Dr Cunney said while the number of VRE cases was small compared to other antibiotic-resistant infections, such as escherichia coli (E Coli) or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Ireland now had the highest rate of VRE in Europe.