PUBLIC INFORMATION

The internet provides a lot of information but much of it is of questionable quality. Below we provide some reliable links which will provide you with accurate information on infection.  We hope this will be of help to the public, patients and their families. We welcome feedback and this can be done via our contact page.

Novel Coronavirus

In December 2019 a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 associated with a cluster of pneumonia cases was identified in the area of Wuhan, Hubei province in China. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30th of January 2020. The scientific community is working hard to obtain more information on the disease and precise routes of transmission of Covid-19. Irish microbiologists are supporting national and international initiatives to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. For the latest information on cases and infection prevention and control recommendations please refer to the HPSC website (HPSC 2019). HPSC Novel coronavirus

 

Patient information factsheets for C. difficile, ESBL, MRSA and VRE are available at the HPSC Healthcare-associated infections public information website. Factsheets for CRE, hepatitis, Lyme disease, Measles and influenza are all located at the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) website here.

For more comprehensive information, the HPSC has an A-Z index of subjects

The Centers for Disease Control in the US also has an A-Z index of health information

A good source of Irish vaccination information is the HSE’s immunisation website

For those travelling abroad, the Tropical Medicine Bureau gives travel advice and provides information on recommended vaccinations and malaria prevention. The CDC also provides country by country travel advice.

Challenges in antimicrobial resistance were highlighted in a recent Irish Independent supplement:

AMR campaign Ireland 18 11 2016