Superbug compensation to drop by 85%

The number of payouts for healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) has fallen beyond projections, the State Claims Agency (SCA) has announced.

In the first half of 2009, three claims for compensation have been made to hospitals in relation to patients acquiring MRSA or C.difficile; compared to 34 claims throughout 2008. In 2007, 38 claims were lodged regarding HCAIs.

The fall in claims has prompted the SCA to revise its predictions that the compensation bill will total €500 million. Now, it predicts that between €75m and €80m will be paid out in superbug claims over the next 15 years.

The significant drop in claims has been attributed to the improved infection-control systems that are now in place in hospitals, and also because of the known difficulty in proving that the infection originated in the hospital, and that the hospital was negligent in allowing the patient to become infected.