Medical history – of the wrong kind – was made last year when one of the most common sights at children’s parties was linked to a major outbreak of the MRSA superbug… now one of our top doctors explains the unusual and complex circumstances
A medical report has linked the largest ever recorded outbreak of MRSA in Ireland to children playing on bouncy castles at a party, marking what doctors describe as a previously undocumented route for such infections. The outbreak, which occurred last autumn in a suburb in the HSE Dublin and Midlands region, saw 48 children and adolescents develop skin and soft tissue infections, with 15 seeking hospital treatment and four requiring admission, prompting an urgent public health investigation.
The infections were caused by a rare, aggressive strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and were attributed to close physical contact among children playing on three crowded, wet bouncy castles in humid conditions. Of the 48 cases (22 confirmed, 26 possible), most affected children were aged five to 16, averaging 12 years old, with almost three-quarters male; symptoms typically appeared as spots, redness and blisters on the legs, abdomen and buttocks within two days. An outbreak control team involving several health bodies traced cases via the event organiser, treated patients with antibiotics and antiseptic measures, and declared the outbreak over after 40 days without new cases.
- Bouncy castle party linked to Ireland's largest ever MRSA outbreak
- 48 children infected, 15 hospitalised, 4 admitted to hospital
- Doctors call it a novel, previously undescribed transmission route