The data is outlined in the first situational analysis report from the National Public Health Emergency Team on CPE, which has been published this afternoon. The Group has also just held their eighth meeting.
“At this stage, it is not known if this increase is due to enhanced screening or an actual increase in the number of people with CPE,” stated the Department of Health. “The most recent CPE screening data from the HSE’s Business Intelligence Unit is also included [in the report]. It shows a total of 9,821 reported CPE screenings in October 2017 with differences across Hospital Groups suggesting variation in the implementation of the CPE screening requirements policy.
“The main gaps identified to date relate to requirements for reporting of CPE colonisation, implementation of national requirements in particular for screening in acute hospitals and the timeliness of surveillance data. The report includes next steps to address the gaps.”
Chief Medical Officer and Chair of the Group, Dr Tony Holohan, recognised that “the HSE have reviewed and strengthened their governance and implementation oversight arrangements since the National Public Health Emergency Team was convened”. He added that “assuring that the required next steps are progressed will be a priority focus for the Group in 2018”.
Expected outputs for 2018 include “prompt progress” towards effective screening for CPE across all Hospital Groups, progress reports from the HSE’s Implementation Team, monthly CPE surveillance reports from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, a report from the Expert Group on their review of the screening requirements and outbreak management plan and seeking assurance that the response plan is aligned to Ireland’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020.
The minutes of all previous meetings and related documents are published on a dedicated page on the Department of Health website.
