Cases of C diff bug soar in young and middle-aged patients

CASES of the hospital bug Clostridium difficile in younger and middle-aged people have increased by almost a quarter, new figures have shown.

The number of infections in the 15 to 64 age group rose to 204 in July to September last year, up 24 per cent from 165 the previous quarter.

Opposition MSPs warned against complacency in tackling hospital infections, amid concern that staff cutbacks could affect efforts to cut cases. But the Scottish Government pointed to the large drop in infections, including MRSA, in recent years, and said it would push for further improvements.

According to figures from Health Protection Scotland (HPS), among patients aged over 65 - those most at risk from C diff - infections dropped slightly from 578 cases to 575 in July to September last year.

But the rate, based on hospital bed occupation, increased slightly from 0.46 cases of C diff per 1,000 occupied bed days to 0.47 - a rise of 2 per cent. HPS said the increase was not statistically significant.

In those aged under 65, the rate rose from 0.43 per 1,000 bed days to 0.53 between July and September - a rise of 23 per cent.

HPS said while this was statistically significant, it might be that increased testing for the infection and false positive results had a greater effect on the numbers due to the lower prevalence of C diff in this age group.

Yesterday, figures also showed continued progress in reducing rates of MRSA, with 73 cases reported in July to September - down from 79 the previous quarter, and the lowest ever recorded.

Despite the rise in cases reported in the under-65 group, the Scottish Government highlighted that numbers were still 38 per cent down compared with the previous year.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon also pointed out that cases of C difficile in the over-65 age group had fallen from 1,775 in the first quarter of 2007 to 575 in the latest quarter.

"But there is always more that can be done and I expect health boards to remain vigilant and ensure that implementing infection control procedures remains a top priority," she said.

On the issue of rising cases in under-65s, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "While it's always a concern when infection rates rise, there is nothing to indicate that this is part of a long-term trend."

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie expressed fears that progress on tackling infections may have stalled and cuts to frontline staff could further hamper efforts.

"My concern is that we are now seeing rates beginning to rise again because of SNP cuts in vital front-line positions, like nurses and hospital cleaners," she said.Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said: "With so much attention being paid to the incidence of C difficile, it is hugely disappointing that there has been an increase in the numbers contracting the infection. These figures should be going down, not up."