Dealing with the hospital superbug MRSA in the Netherlands.
Ireland has one of the highest rates of the hospital superbug Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus in Europe. A coroner's court recorded what is believed to be the State's first verdict of death by MRSA infection. Some countries have extremely low rates, among them the Netherlands, which has adopted a very strict MRSA control programme.
Groningen University Hospital is the leading Dutch centre for tackling MRSA. The Netherlands and Scandinavia have the lowest rates in Europe of this drug-resistant hospital superbug. The Dutch approach is to seek out the disease and oppress it before it becomes a problem.
The Dutch policy is called 'Search and Destroy'
Under the system, any patient who has been in hospital abroad is isolated and tested for MRSA in an effort to control its spread. Health care workers and pig farmers, who are a high risk group, are also regularly tested for the bug. Dr Jan Arends, a microbiologist, explains how the system works through a system of detection and strict isolation. It can take up to a week for a patient to be free from MRSA. Healthcare staff dealing with infected patients go through a strict hygiene protocol wearing full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and continuous hand washing.
The Dutch approach requires enough isolation units and spare beds in the health system to allow for thorough cleaning and disinfection. The Netherlands has a better healthcare infrastructure than many other countries which means that their hospitals are in a better position to deal with infectious viruses.
They are more modern. They have more space. They are easier to be kept clean.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 17 November 2006. The reporter is Sean Whelan.
