"In 2004, there were almost 600 cases of MRSA bloodstream infections
in Ireland, according to figures subsequently found to have been
grossly underestimated.

By comparison, there were four such infections in Norway and none in
Holland. It was said patients had a one-in-20 chance of picking up an
infection in an Irish hospital, and one in 200 people who went to
hospital got an MRSA infection."

"Many Scandinavian countries test all patients for MRSA on admission.
Their rates are among the lowest in the world."

…One has to ask why things are so bad in Ireland (and Britain and
Canada) and so good elsewhere?

http://www.sbpost.ie/newsfeatures/superbugs-back-on-the-agenda-45490....

Superbugs back on the agenda

08 November 2009 By Susan Mitchell

With the current focus on addressing the threat posed by the swine flu
pandemic, so-called superbugs have disappeared off the media radar.
Then, last week, the Health Service Executive (HSE) announced that it
had to close wards and cancel elective admissions at Our Lady of
Lourdes hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth.

The reason? An outbreak of Clostridium Difficile (C Diff)...

...Irish authorities claim improvements have been made, but many
dispute those claims...