Epidemiological Data: Healthcare Associated Infections

Quarterly Reporting Results for Clostridium difficile infections, MRSA bacteraemia and GRE bacteraemia

 

The importance of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) as a cause of preventable illness and death has been recognised increasingly in recent years, and the prevention and control of these infections has become a priority. Surveillance or monitoring of these infections is key to their control: we need to be able to measure them if we are to assess whether any impact has been made on controlling infection. Many hospitals in the country have participated in voluntary surveillance of key infections for many years. However, as part of the increased focus on control of HCAI, surveillance of some infections was made mandatory. This started off with Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA) bacteraemia in April 2001 and was later extended to glycopeptide resistant enterococcal bacteraemia in October 2003, C. difficile associated disease in January 2004.

 

MRSA bacteraemia: December 2008

• Table 1: Quarterly counts of MRSA (July to September 2008) (Excel Spreadsheet, 82 KB)

• Table 2: Six monthly counts/rates of MRSA (April to September 2008) (Excel Spreadsheet, 154 KB)

• Table 3: Financial year counts/rates of MRSA (FY 2007/08) (Excel Spreadsheet, 136 KB)

• Commentary for MRSA Bacteraemia December 2008 (PDF, 186 KB)

 

C. difficile infection: October 2008

• Tables 4a, 4b, 4c: Quarterly counts of C. difficile by age (April to June 2008) (Excel Spreadsheet, 438 KB)
  Table 4a. Quarterly counts (case episodes) of C. difficile for patients aged 65 years and over
  Table 4b. Quarterly counts (case episodes) of C. difficile for patients aged between 2 and 64 years of age
  Table 4c. Quarterly counts (case episodes) of C. difficile for patients aged 2 years and over

• Tables 5a, 5b, 5c: Financial year counts/rates of C. difficile by age (FY 2007/08) (Excel Spreadsheet, 305 KB)
  Table 5a. Financial year annual counts (case episodes) and rates of C. difficile for patients aged 65 years and over
  Table 5b. Financial year annual counts (case episodes) and rates of C. difficile for patients aged between 2 and 64 years
  Table 5c. Financial year annual counts (case episodes) and rates of C. difficile for patients aged 2 years and over

• Table 6: Calendar year counts/rates of C. difficile by age (CY 2007) (Excel Spreadsheet, 1.7 MB)
  
• Commentary for Clostridium difficile. October 2008 (PDF, 271 KB)

 

GRE bacteraemia: July 2008

• Table 7: Annual counts of Glycopeptide Resistant Enterococcal Bacteraemia (October 2003 to September 2007) (Excel Spreadsheet, 58 KB)
  

• Commentary for GRE bacteraemia July 2008 (PDF, 148 KB)