27% jump in hospital MRSA cases

Date Published: 28-Apr-2009

THE number of cases of the potentially deadly MRSA superbug at Galway’s two public hospitals has seen a dramatic rise, according to new figures from the Health Services Executive.

The figures for 2008 show there were 47 cases of MRSArecorded at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park, an increase of 27% (from 37 cases) on 2007.

However, the report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre also shows that the two Galway University Hospitals have bucked the national trend by recording a drop in the number of cases of the second deadly superbug MSSA.

The number of MSSA cases in 2008 was 42, down almost 24% from the 55 cases recorded the previous year.

In the report, the HPSC bundled…