State may face €500m bill for MRSA pay-outs

The State could reportedly be facing a bill of up to €500m due to hospital superbugs like MRSA.

Reports this morning say the State Claims Agency has estimated that the average cost of compensation claims over hospital-acquired infections could be more than €300,000.

It says the state could face 1,500 claims and a total bill of up to €500m in compensation pay-outs and legal costs.

The agency is currently dealing with around 100 claims relating to superbugs, but says it is aware of one legal firm that is building up a class action-type lawsuit on MRSA.