Tag Archives: bacteria

On the advice of the HSE, Clare County Council has this morning raised a Red Flag at Lahinch Beach, indicating a bathing prohibition at this location until further notice. The restriction has been introduced after the results of routine bathing water samples showed elevated levels of bacteria. In accordance with An Taisce’s Blue Flag programme, the Blue Flag at this bathing area will be removed until such time as the water quality improves. Red flags have been issued at Lahinch on a number of occasions in recent years.

A UNIVERSITY of Limerick academic is a member of a team of European experts examining the potential of antimicrobial coatings to prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals. The Anti-Microbial Coating Innovations (AMiCI) consortium is studying the development, regulation, and “real life” use of these coatings, which can be used on textiles, including bed sheets and gowns, and solid surfaces such as walls, floors, beds and tables. Professor Colum Dunne from University of Limerick (UL) Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS) is a member of the AMiCI Management Group. Previous research, published by Professor Dunne and his colleagues, has reported the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in Irish hospitals. It has also examined how outbreaks of these organisms have been successfully managed by infection prevention and control teams. On the latest project, he said,“New approaches are needed to protect hospital patients and healthcare staff. Antimicrobial coatings have great potential. These are surfaces fortified with active ingredients that are responsible for the reduction …

FOLLOWING advice from the Health Service Executive (HSE), Clare County Council has issued a swimming advisory notice for Kilkee beach asking that people not swim there due to an increase in the levels of bacteria found in the water. The council introduced the advisory on Wednesday morning. The noticed was issued after elevated levels of microbiological contamination were recorded in a routine bathing water sample in Kilkee, which experienced an exceptionally busy June Bank Holiday weekend. The council says that monitoring is ongoing and efforts are underway to identify the bacteria source. It is possible that the swimming ban could be lifted as early as Thursday.