8,000 'superbug' infections in Irish hospitals last year

More than 8,000 people reportedly tested positive for a range of potentially fatal "superbugs" in Irish hospitals last year.

Reports this morning quote figures released under the Freedom of Information Act which showed that 6,000 of these patients had been infected by MRSA.

However, the vast majority of these patients did not have serious infections and were not ill as a result of the bacteria. About 500 people became ill with their MRSA infection.

The reports said the highest number of serious MRSA infections was in large hospitals such as the Mater and St James' in Dublin.