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Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Thornton (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 December 2009.


Health: MRSA

Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any connection between animal and human strains of MRSA; and whether they will consider the experience of the Netherlands in that matter.
Answer

The majority of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are due to healthcare-associated strains. However, given experience in the Netherlands and elsewhere the Health Protection Agency asks diagnostic laboratories to send it unusual isolates from people with a farming association for further investigation. No cases of the pig-related strain ST398 have been reported in England. The Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections continue to keep developments in relation to human and animal strains of MRSA under review.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
360; 715 c47WA
Session
2009-10
Subjects
Animals MRSA
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk