Qualcuno potrebbe illuminarmi su questo "Superbug"?
![[SM=g27833]](https://im0.freeforumzone.it/up/0/33/6206759.gif)
buona serata
dubh
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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=545163
Superbug shock: 30 die in Ulster
Infection rates have doubled in five years
By Nigel Gould, Health Correspondent
ngould@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
27 July 2004
Feared superbug, MRSA, contributed to the deaths of 30 patients in Northern Ireland last year, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
It means MRSA-related deaths have more than doubled in the province in just five years.
In addition, there were just under 500 cases of MRSA recorded between 2001 - when figures were first collated - and 2003.
The shock figures have sparked calls for urgent action.
Leading Ulster consultant, Dr Peter Maguire, has urged the setting up of special hospital hit-squads to ensure cleanliness procedures are carried out.
And DUP MP, Iris Robinson, who has raised the issue in the House of Commons, has called for an "extensive" study conducted into hospital acquired infections such as MRSA in Northern Ireland.
She said infection rates should be published every year by each hospital.
Dr Maguire, a consultant anaesthetist at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry and deputy chairman of the BMA's Board of Science, said: "We have to accept that MRSA can kill - this is a problem that needs to be tackled.
"Basic cleanliness is the best way forward and all health staff must adhere to this.
"I believe there is a need to establish hospital hit-squads for cleanliness."
Mrs Robinson, the DUP's health spokesperson, said: "The number of deaths related to MRSA in Northern Ireland is on the rise.
"Thirty local people had MRSA mentioned on their death certificate in 2003 compared with 11 in 1998, and less than 15 up until 2001.
"Sustained efforts by Government to minimise MRSA have thus far failed. Basic simple hygiene measures are not being implemented, such as staff washing hands with alcohol-based gel in between patients. High bed occupancy limits the opportunity to isolate those infected.
"I have been concerned for some time that trying to balance the books could impact on the hygiene of our hospitals. Some employees have expressed concern about the quality of products now used to clean."
The new figures were revealed by Health Minister, Angela Smith, in reply to a House of Commons question by Labour MP for Thurrock, Andrew Mackinlay.
Mrs Smith said 30 death certificates were registered last year in which MRSA was mentioned.
"In the UK, the International Classification of Diseases used to classify causes of death," she said. "ICD does not have a specific code for MRSA but statistics on deaths where MRSA was a contributing faction can be obtained."
Mrs Smith said the Government was committed to a wide range of actions to reduce MRSA.
However, the emergence of new superbugs in Ulster hospitals and the community is extremely worrying.
Just last week, the Belfast Telegraph revealed that resistant bugs known as Gram Negative organisms have found their way into hospitals and the community.