UK NEWS

DEADLY SUPERBUG STILL ON RISE

An electron micrograph of Clostridium difficile bacteria

Thursday November 1,2007

By Julia White for express.co.uk

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(9)

THE number of patients infected with the deadly hospital superbug C. diff is continuing to soar, it was revealed today.

A staggering 55, 620 patients aged 65 and over contracted Clostridium difficile in NHS hospitals - an increase of seven per cent on the year before – according to figures from the Health Protection Agency.

The figures don’t even fully take into account the devastating outbreak of the bug which recently killed at least 90 people in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust.

Today's increases came as it emerged that the Kent health trust may have acted illegally when it paid off former chief executive Rose Gibbs.

Ms Gibbs resigned over the scandal after a Healthcare Commission report said the trust maintained appalling hygiene conditions.

Hospitals are still not clean enough

In all, C. diff contributed to a total of 345 deaths and more than 1,100 infections across a two-year period at the trust.

Nationwide there were 55,620 reports of C. diff in 2006. This was compared to 51,829 the previous year.

Figures for January to March 2007 show a rise of cases from 15,346 to 15,639 when compared with the same quarter last year.

Professor Pete Borriello, Director of the Centre for Infections, said more needed to be done to prevent the bug spreading.

He said: “More work needs to be done to see the same level of decrease with C. diff [as MRSA] and we are encouraging Trusts to use the figures to raise the profile of local infection control practices.

The numbers of MRSA blood poisoning cases are on the decrease, with a ten per cent reduction seen in the last year.

But the Conservatives were quick to point out that this reduction isn't being reflected in the case of C Diff.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley today pointed to the 30,000 cases of C.diff so far this year compared with just over 20,000 in the same period in 2004.

He said said: “The Government’s latest announcements are too little, far too late.

“These infections have been accepted as endemic; we have to change that. As MRSA was targeted, so C diff cases increased sharply.

“These latest figures show that there are still far too many cases of C diff in our hospitals.

“Instead of the zero tolerance approach that we need, Gordon Brown has abandoned his MRSA target and proposed a chronically weak C diff target which won’t even roll back the increases over the past three years.”

Richard James, professor of microbiology at Nottingham University, said: “The reduction [in MRSA] is welcome but there is a long way to go to further reduce preventable infections.

“Contamination of the hospital environment with C. diff spores requires more than a bucket and mop to remove them.

“High bed occupancy rates are not compatible with the control of C. diff infection.”

MRSA AND OTHER SUPERBUGS

02.11.07, 9:32pm

Untill the government does away with contract cleaning firms who chase maximum profits for minimum effort and outlay,and are replaced with properly employed NHS cleaners using carbolic/bleach and boiling water to clean the floors,walls,bedframes etc and until the linen is changed daily these so called superbugs will flourish(these bugs are not actually super at all but are given such names by government ministers to make them sound harder to clean up than normal bugs and bacteria to hide the governments incompetence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Posted by: jonG • Report Comment

IRONSIDE

01.11.07, 9:54pm

complanet to pals in hopsital. i used a worker who helped me icas saep or somefing like that

• Posted by: Harmony • Report Comment

ABUELA

01.11.07, 7:55pm

Thank-you it means so much ....a few words of comfort speak volumes....

• Posted by: IRONSIDE • Report Comment

IRONSIDE

01.11.07, 7:41pm

So sorry to hear about your mother.
My mother in law was in the same position about 5 years ago and she developed bed sores and infections.
My sister in law had to be at the hospital and then in the care home all the time to make sure that she was being looked after. She massaged her feet and hands to soothe her and turned her over when she could to prevent sores. She rubbed talc under her and made sure all was kept clean. But there were many people that did not have relatives or visitors and it was clear for all to see..the care was sub standard.
You must be vigilant and make sure the nursing staff know you are watching.
I hope your mother has the care she needs.

• Posted by: abuela • Report Comment

IAM SO AFRAID

01.11.07, 7:10pm

My mo9ther had a massive stroke August of last year...she has been in and out of hospital ever since...she has been admitted again today....I fear for her....My mother lost her speech and mobility life now is very hard....The last time they put the wrong name above her bed and if my sister had not been present would have administered the wrong medication.....Every time I think she will contract one of these bugs and die.....The other thing that frightens me that if any one is unkind to her or leaves her sitting all day in her own excrement she cant tell us....It is a truly dreadful situation.......

• Posted by: IRONSIDE • Report Comment

DISGUSTING

01.11.07, 6:44pm

This is nothing more than a major scandal, which the politicians are treating as a minor ailment.

I was in Worthing Hospital recently and it was disgusting, I never noticed the nurses, doctors or even the consultant wash their hands once. The wards are filthy, not to mention the bedding felt like it tattered cloth, which could be found thrown on a street.

The biggest infections our nation has to cope with parasites leaching upon the system. I mean those Politicians and Bureaucrats sucking our system dry, for their own gains and without a thought for those most vulnerable in society.
If we want to get rid of such superbugs, we should get rid of the political parasites first.

nickisplight.co.uk

• Posted by: nickisplight • Report Comment