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Cleaning costs soar within hospitals due to Superbugs

Over the last three years, it has been found that cleaning costs within hospitals have soared by 45%. However, superbugs still remain to be a threat to a number of patients throughout the country. The HSE has stated that a figure in the region of €171m will be spent this year on cleaning within Irish hospitals. This increased spending will bring the current figure to 55% spent over the last four years.

Recent outbreak

Last week within a hospital in Ireland, the superbug called "clostridium difficile" had been a contributor to the death of 15 patients. Recent figures now show that more than €578m will have been spent over the past 3 years. This figure includes the planned spending for the forthcoming year.

Current situation

A major problem occurring within hospitals is the fact that some superbugs are now starting to become resistant to antibiotics. In 2007, it was found that there were a total of 432 officially reported MRSA bugs during the months of January to September. At present, there are no official figures on clostridium difficile, although it is estimated that there could be up to 2,000 cases each year.

Hygiene ratings

An independent hygiene audit which was published last year found that of the 51 hospitals surveyed throughout Ireland, not even one was rated as having a very good hygiene level.

A subsequent report by the Health Information and Quality Authority found that only seven hospitals were rated as having good hygiene level. In addition, a hospital, where a number of patients died recently due to a superbug outbreak, has increased their cleaning by 9pc between 2006 and 2007.

Another hospital that was rated as having poor hygiene within the report increased its spending by 26%, from €3m in 2005, to a projected spending of €3.9m for 2008.

A spokesman of the HSE stated that a National Infection Control Steering Group has now been put in place to deal with infection. The spokesman also stated that the group is now on course to reduce MRSA by 30% and healthcare associated infections by 20%.

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