One hospital MRSA-type case every 4 hours

The equivalent of one person develops a potentially fatal hospital superbug bloodstream infection every four hours, figures revealed after a series of damning health service hygiene reports have shown.

Despite significant improvements in tackling the threat of MRSA and other conditions in recent years, official records show six people are still contracting the conditions every day.

Health Protection Surveillance Centre figures compiled from hospital laboratories confirm that in the first half of last year — the latest period available — 128 MRSA and 939 clostridium difficile cases were found in public and private hospitals.

The figures compare to 305 and 263 MRSA bloodstream infections for all of 2010 and 2011; and 1,693 and 1,848 C diff cases over the same years. These rates match the six cases a day total figure.

The records were released to independent TD Denis Naughten — who left Fine Gael in 2011 over the Roscommon Hospital row.

The HSE insists standards are improving, noting a 50% cut in MRSA and 20% drop in C diff cases since 2006.

However, the fact the figures come a fortnight after the Health Information Quality Authority revealed chronic hospital hygiene problems has led to concern over patient safety in the one service meant to help their health.

“These infections can cause fatal complications. The fear is other less well-known superbugs will become the headlines of tomorrow unless there is a root-and-branch overhaul of hospital hygiene,” said Mr Naughten.

The details emerged after 14 HIQA hygiene standards reports were published. Earlier this month the independent watchdog heavily criticised Connolly Hospital, South Tipperary General, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin and the Mid-Western Maternity Hospital in Limerick.

The HIQA team found:

*An infectious disease patient was left in an ED cubicle at Connolly for 30 hours;

*South Tipperary General must undergo a complete hygiene review after its maternity ward was found to be unclean: blood stains found on the floor and cots were “dirty”;

*Intravenous fluid stands, wound dressing trolleys and child cots were unclean at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin;

*Clinical waste was left unlocked and accessible in a key patient corridor at the Mid-Western Maternity Hospital in Limerick.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation official Anne Burke said the HSE has “gone the full mile” in drawing up hygiene policies.

However, while her own hospital received a clean bill of health from HIQA, the clinical nurse manager at Galway University Hospital’s ED said budget cuts mean these rules cannot always be enforced.

“The HSE has a very, very stringent policy on infection control, but it’s only as good as the people there to implement these policies. The reality in hospitals generally is you could have three or four people in a ward who need to be isolated but there’s only space to isolate one.”

A HSE spokesman said, overall, MRSA bloodstream infection rates halved between 2006 and 2011. Since C diff became a notifiable disease in May 2008, the infection’s “crude incidence rate” has fallen 20%. Official figures show hospital worker hand-washing compliance is high at 80%.