Surveillance reduced on hospital 'superbug'

Monitoring of a hospital "superbug" will be reduced next week, partly to save money.

The Institute of Environmental Science and Research will stop producing its weekly report on case numbers of strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that are resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics.

The Ministry of Health pays ESR to produce the information.

Implementing an advisory committee's recommendation, the ministry no longer wants the weekly reports. But ESR will continue with its annual survey of all MRSA samples sent to it in a one-month period by hospital and community laboratories. This includes the multi-resistant strains.

A member of the committee, Auckland microbiologist Dr David Holland, said last night its advice to end the weekly reporting was based on "the resources available [money and staff] and whether it adds anything to the control of MRSA".

ESR's website, citing national guidelines, says good communication between healthcare facilities is the most important measure to prevent MRSA transmission when patients are transferred.

But Green Party health spokeswoman Sue Kedgley, who drew attention to the change, said it was a "stupid" decision.

"MRSA is still endemic in New Zealand, and the organism is mutating into new and more dangerous forms overseas.

"We need more, not less, surveillance of this."