Hospitals are winning war on C difficile after drop in infections

Published on Wednesday 8 July 2009 22:02

RATES of the hospital infection Clostridium difficile are at their lowest level since monitoring began – but cases continue to rise in some parts of Scotland, figures showed yesterday.

Health Protection Scotland (HPS) revealed there were 1,152 cases among over-65s between January and March – a 38 per cent decrease on the same period last year, when there were 1,861.

Figures also showed rates of MRSA were down 15 per cent on previous year, though the number of cases increased slightly at the start of the year.

But HPS said that, while overall levels of C difficile were falling in Scotland, yearly trends suggested rates in Grampian, Borders and Orkney were rising. The figures do not cover testing of under-65s, which will be included from October.

The statistics come after the Crown Office decided not to press charges against any NHS staff over the outbreak of C difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Dunbartonshire last year. A public inquiry is to be held into the outbreak, which was linked to 55 patients falling ill and 18 deaths.

Yesterday's figures showed rates of C difficile were now at their lowest level since monitoring began in 2006. Rates between January and March also fell 11 per cent on the previous quarter, when there were 1,299 reports. But HPS said that, while rates decreased in eight health boards, they rose in six.

There were also wide variations between areas – ranging from a low of 0.17 cases per 1,000 hospital bed days in Western Isles to 5.71 in Orkney.

HPS said the twofold rise seen in Orkney was linked to an outbreak at Balfour Hospital that affected 14 patients.