Hospital bug infections - Survey does not diagnose rate clearly

A prevalence survey to determine the rate of hospital-acquired infections has just been conducted and published by the Health Service Executive (HSE). It surveyed forty-four different hospitals.

The report concluded that the overall 5% rate of hospital-acquired infections in this country is better than in seven listed EU countries and the United States. In Britain, for instance the rate is 7.6%.

There is, however, significant variation between the performances of the hospitals, which probably raises more questions than it answers.

Six hospitals recorded a zero infection rate.

Were they doing something particularly effective, or is there another explanation for their exemplary performance?

The two hospitals with the highest rate of infection in the country are in Cork — the South Infirmary, where the rate was 13.3%, and Mercy Hospital, where the rate was 10.3%.

The South Infirmary questions the accuracy of the survey, because it claims to have the most comprehensive testing regime, with attendant microbiological expertise. In other words, it may just be detecting more because of its efficiency.

If hospitals with the most comprehensive testing regimes have fared worst in the survey, questions must be asked about the accuracy of the overall report. Critics of the survey assert that it was overly reliant on information provided by staff working in the hospitals.

The HSE is setting up an Infection Control Steering Group along with the support of eight local implementation teams to einsure that facilities achieve national targets. The aim is to reduce the rate of hospital bugs by 20% and super-bug MRSA by 30% in the next three to five years.

Do we really know the current rate?