RISE IN WEST MIDS MRSA CASES A CAUSE FOR CONCERN

5.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 28th Apr 2008

West Midlands cases of hospital superbug MRSA rose at the end of last year, despite government commitments to halve cases by June this year.

The worst rises were seen at Heart of England and University Hospital Birmingham NHS trusts, up from 24 to 29, and 15 to 22 in October-December 2007, compared to the previous quarter. Birmingham Children's Hospital saw its first case in a year.

Across England MRSA cases during October-December 2007 were up 0.6% on the previous quarter at 1087, after successive falls since April 2006. Cases across the wider West Midlands region also rose, from 132 to 137 cases.

Local Euro-MP Liz Lynne, Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee contributed to a recent report which called for greater protection for healthcare workers from infections such as MRSA. She said:

"These figures are worrying for the government and patients alike, showing that after the start of the 'deep clean' programme, infections rose, after steady falls in previous quarters.

"This country has one of the worst records on healthcare associated infections in the European Union. I have long called for screening of healthcare workers and a European code of conduct to help tackle superbugs. If we are serious about eradicating MRSA, which claims some 1600 UK lives each year, we need to learn from our European partners."

Screening of workers for potentially lethal infections such as MRSA has still not become routine in many UK hospitals and some staff are not even sent home after testing positive. This contrasts greatly with the Netherlands where, for instance, regular testing and the exclusion of infected workers have led to one of the lowest rates of MRSA in Europe.

ENDS

Notes:

The government's target is 963 cases or lower in the April-June 2008 quarter, which it may now be unable to reach.

In 2006, MRSA was mentioned on 1652 UK death certificates.