Hospital-acquired superbugs ‘absolutely‘ contribute to a number of patient deaths annually
HSE’s clinical lead on anti-microbial resistance and infection control says hospital-acquired superbugs ‘absolutely’ contribute to patient deaths annuallyA total of 1,065 patients acquired Clostridium difficile or Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in hospitals during 2021. Photograph: The Irish TimesAlmost 7,000 patients tested positive for potentially fatal healthcare-associated infections in Irish hospitals last year, new figures show.
There were 352 cases of S aureus bloodstream infections, which would include both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus , acquired in hospitals in 2021.Beaumont had the highest number of S aureus bloodstream infections at 37, with the Mater having 31 and both St James’s and St Vincent’s each having 30.
“It’s difficult to attribute mortality to one particular organism. But absolutely, there’s no doubt [that they do contribute to deaths]. Even without the resistant component, if these organisms are in your blood – sepsis itself has a mortality associated with it,” she said. “All it takes is one person to fall and you’ve got 41 patients with nobody able to be on hand. Hands can’t be washed running between them or doing medication rounds; we don’t have enough staff: doctors, nurses, and healthcare assistants.”
The HSE said hospitals varied by size and case-mix and that could have an important impact on the number of superbugs, meaning those resistant to antibiotics, detected in patients. There were also at least 1,133 cases of VRE recorded in 13 Irish hospitals last year, according to figures obtained by The Irish Times through Freedom of Information laws. VRE is another antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection which can cause urinary tract and wound infections. VRE can cause a serious infection if it gets into blood, kidneys, bladder or body tissues.
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