MRSA related deaths in care homes rises

The number of deaths related to the MRSA superbug in care homes
has increased by almost a third in three years, writes
Simeon Brody.

Responding to a parliamentary question, health minister Jane
Kennedy revealed that in 2003 the death certificates of 70 people
living in nursing and residential homes mentioned MRSA, an increase
of 17 since 2001.

Shadow health minister Simon Burns, who asked the question,
described the figures as “truly disturbing”.

A spokesperson for the shadow minister said the figures were
only likely to be the “tip of the iceberg”, as many
deaths resulting from MRSA did not specifically mention it on the
death certificate.

Burns said it was “ludicrous” that the Department of
Health did not collect centrally the figures for MRSA in care
homes.

He called for hospitals to be given guidance to ensure those
being discharged from their wards into care homes are not
infected.