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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years have been attributed to MRSA; and what guidelines are used in recording the numbers of deaths in which MRSA has been a factor. [224160] Mr. Pearson: The numbers of deaths where Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was mentioned on the death certificate in Northern Ireland, for the registration years 1999-2003, are given in the table as follows. Number of deaths in Northern Ireland with MRSA mentioned on the death certificate by registration year 1999-2003 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Registration year Death certificate mentioned MRSA 1999 13 2000 14 2001 16 2002 25 2003 30 Total (1999-2003) 98 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is used to classify cause of death and the current version of ICD does not have a specific code for MRSA. The statistics reported in the table have been obtained by identifying all deaths with ICD codes likely to be linked with MRSA, and checking the relevant death certificates for mention of MRSA.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1421-2W;432 c1417-8W; 224160

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Hospitals Infectious diseases Northern Ireland MRSA Mortality rates

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk