New measures reduce MRSA at ITU, Cardiac Unit

The rates of MRSA infections at the Intensive Therapy Unit of Mater Dei Hospital have been cut down to among the lowest in the EU after having been among the highest a few years ago, Health Minister Joseph Cassar said today.

However further efforts were needed to reduce the rates of MRSA and other healthcare infections at the hospital.

Dr Cassar was speaking at the seventh annual conference on infectious disease control.

The minister pointed out that between eight and 12 per cent of patients across the EU suffered infections during hospital treatment, but many such healthcare-acquired infections could be avoided through the simple process of washing hands and keeping surroundings clean.

Proper use of antibiotics was also important.

Dr John Cachia, Director-General Healthcare Services, said that Malta, along with Portugal, still had the highest rates of MRSA, but thanks to new infection control measures, significant progress had been made in the ITU and the Cardiac Unit. He called for a zero tolerance policy to curb such infections as much as possible.