Madam, - According to your edition of September 6th, the Western Health Board has dismissed as inaccurate recent media reports on hygiene standards at University College Hospital, Galway.
These reports stemmed from a an article in Irish Medical Times on September 5th which was based on two research studies carried out at University College Hospital Galway.
This research was due to be presented at the Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Scientific Meeting in Galway last weekend. Copies of the abstracts were made available to the IMT in advance of the meeting.
IMT consulted with a pharmacist and a microbiologist on the abstract of research on the carriage of MRSA bacteria on doctors' equipment. Both advised, based on the abstract, that it was not inaccurate to report that bacteria had been found which was resistant to antibiotics.
The second abstract was based on research into hygiene among 112 junior doctors working in Galway. It concluded that hand decontamination, stethoscope cleaning and white coat changing are below the levels recommended by infection control authorities. - Yours, etc.,
CONOR GANLY, Reporter, Irish Medical Times, Upper Ormond Quay, Dublin 7.