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Written question asked by Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour) on Thursday, 17 February 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 February 2011. It was answered by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 March 2011 on behalf of the Department of Health.


MRSA: Screening

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the capacity of methods of screening against the MRSA bacterium used by NHS hospitals to detect new strains of the infection; and if he will make a statement.
Answer

Many laboratory methods are available to national health service hospitals to detect Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and these meet the European Commission standards for safety, quality and performance. NHS trust laboratories use simple tests to detect MRSA. These tests have been available for many years and are capable of detecting the emergence of a new MRSA on this basis.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
42983; 524 c496W
Session
2010-12
Subjects
MRSA Screening
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk