THE PUBLIC has a poor understanding of the measures needed to prevent MRSA, while nine in 10 people have learned about the infection through the media, new research has found.
A survey of general practice patients, presented at the annual scientific meeting of the Society of Academic Primary Care in NUI Galway yesterday, found that less than half were aware of the effectiveness of hand washing as a way of preventing MRSA infection.
Just one quarter of patients were aware that the infection could be eradicated from the body, while 51 per cent of those surveyed were aware that a community- acquired version of MRSA existed.
Dr Lisa Murphy, a registrar with the midwest GP training scheme, said that patients' poor knowledge of the prevention and spread of the infection is linked to the findings that just 7 per cent of patients were educated about the superbug through their general practitioner.
"The main source of the public's knowledge is the media . . . These results highlight the need to further educate our communities in the prevention and treatment of MRSA resistance", she said.
In a keynote address, Mary Robinson, president of the US-based organisation Realising Rights and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights told delegates governments must be held accountable for the delivery of health. She said she was concerned that in the UK and the Republic discussions on health were not about universal right to health but focused instead on technical and financial aspects of healthcare.
Mrs Robinson told The Irish Times that a significant number of poorer countries had requested support to help them retain and train health workers. She praised the ethical approach of Norway which, unable to meet its staffing needs from its own resources, recruits health professionals from Poland and eastern Europe.
"Norway looked at the ethics of this and has committed to the principle of paying for the education of healthcare workers who work in Norway. This is a real step in the right direction," she said.