Hospitals urged to be open about ‘superbug’ infections

The Irish Patients' Association has called on hospitals to be more open and transparent in relation to the number of patients contracting so-called "superbugs".

Reports this morning said 8,000 patients contracted infections like MRSA in hospitals last year. 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 figures were obtained under Freedom of Information legislation.

IPA spokesman Stephen McMahon said today that such information should be provided as a matter of course so patients know the risks before they enter hospital.