Deaths register related to healthcare associated infections

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency today published 2007 statistics on deaths registered in Northern Ireland due to healthcare associated infections.

The reports relate to latest 2007 statistics on deaths involving Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) (PDF 168 KB) and Clostridium difficile (PDF 148 KB).

The number of MRSA related deaths has stabilised during 2006 (56 deaths) and 2007 (59 deaths) following increases over the period 1997 to 2005.

The number of Clostridium difficile related deaths has generally increased over the last six years; in 2007 there were 77 Clostridium difficile related deaths.

The Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland (CDSCNI), which is part of the Health Protection Agency, publishes quarterly data on the number of healthcare-associated infections which includes data on MRSA and Clostridium difficile in acute hospitals in Northern Ireland. This information can be obtained from the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland (CDSCNI) website.

Notes to Editors:

1. Death figures have been compiled from returns to local registrars. All statistics are provisional until final figures are published in the Annual Report of the Registrar General. The results are based on analysis of all deaths registered within the 2007 calendar year and some deaths may have occurred prior to this registration year.
2. The reports detail the latest figures for MRSA and Clostridium difficile related deaths registered in 2007 and they provide breakdowns of the figures by place of death. The place of death may not be the place or origin of infection and figures may differ from hospital to hospital for a variety of reasons such as the number of beds occupied in each hospital, the number of patients in intensive care and high dependency units and the age profile of patients.
3. All media enquiries should should be directed to DFP Communications Office
   Telephone: 028 9052 7374
   Fax: 028 9052 7149
4. Further information on the statistics provided in this publication can be obtained from NISRA Customer Services at:
   Telephone: 028 9034 8160
   Fax: 028 9034 8161
   E-mail: census.nisra@dfpni.gov.uk
   Website: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).