Hospital overcrowding blamed for spread of ‘superbug’

An expert with the National Disease Surveillance Centre has reportedly identified hospital overcrowding as one of the main reasons for the spread of the MRSA “superbug”.

MRSA is in the news because of an increase in incidences of the disease at British hospitals over the past few years.

477 MRSA cases were detected in Ireland last year, which is lower than the British rate, but higher than the EU average.

Reports this morning said Dr Robert Cunney, a consultant microbiologist with the NDSC, had identified hospital overcrowding and understaffing as the primary reason for the spread of the disease in Ireland.