Deaths due to MRSA infection on the rise in England and Wales |
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Published
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Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:25
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LONDON: The number of deaths linked to the antibiotic resistant MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) bacteria in England and Wales rose by 22 per cent between 2003 and 2004, according to official figures.
MRSA as a cause of death has been mentioned in 1,168 death certificates in 2004 against 955 cases in the year before, the Office of National Statistics said. The bacterium has been given as the principal cause of death in 360 cases, up from 195 cases in 2000. It is mentioned as cause of death on two out of every 1,000 death certificates and in three out of every 1,000 certificates in NHS hospitals and nursing homes.
The British Medical Association advised doctors to stop wearing ties and traditional white coats in wards because this attire could help spread the MRSA superbugs in hospitals. The government has said it is despatching specialist teams to 20 NHS hospitals believed to be worst affected by the deadly infection.
MRSA is known to attack patients admitted to hospitals and nursing homes with weakened immune systems. Most of the deaths resulting from MRSA infection, occur among those aged above 85.
Latest figures from the department of health show that half of NHS hospital trusts in England are falling behind the target to cut rates of MRSA infection by 50 per cent by 2008. During the period April and September 2005, as many as 3,580 cases of MRSA infections in bloodstreams were reported in England, against 3,525 for the same period the previous year.
The ONS found that routine testing for the bug was becoming more common. ONS' chief medical statistician Peter Goldblatt said the fact that people are dying with MRSA remains a cause for concern, but people shouldn't panic.
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Worries over diluting hospital hygiene, increasing HAI, overspending 