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06/06/2005
New strain of hospital bug identified
A potentially fatal new strain of a hospital acquired infection has been identified.
According to a report in the ‘Independent’ newspaper, 12 have died and 300 more have become infected with clostridium difficile at the Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire since 2003.
The infection, which is one of the most common causes of diarrhoea, mainly affects elderly people. The spread of the bacteria is difficult to contain as alcohol hand gels, used by staff to clean their hands to prevent the spread of infections are ineffective against the organism.
Cases of the infection have risen dramatically within the last 14 years. 1,000 cases were reported in the UK in 1990, but 43,672 were reported last year.
Buckinghamshire Hospital Trust said that everything possible was being done to control the spread of the infection at Stoke Mandeville, the only hospital in the UK to report large numbers of cases of clostridium difficile infection. Dr Andrew Kirk, director of Infection Prevention and Control, said that the most up-to-date technology was being used to minimise the risk of infection to patients.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that the Health Protection Agency had received reports of the new strain of clostridium difficile and was keeping a “watching brief” on the situation. However, they said that the strain was rare in the UK.
Guidance issued by the Department of Health recommends that hospital staff should wash their hands with soap and water in an attempt to halt the spread of the infection.
(KMcA/SP)
According to a report in the ‘Independent’ newspaper, 12 have died and 300 more have become infected with clostridium difficile at the Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire since 2003.
The infection, which is one of the most common causes of diarrhoea, mainly affects elderly people. The spread of the bacteria is difficult to contain as alcohol hand gels, used by staff to clean their hands to prevent the spread of infections are ineffective against the organism.
Cases of the infection have risen dramatically within the last 14 years. 1,000 cases were reported in the UK in 1990, but 43,672 were reported last year.
Buckinghamshire Hospital Trust said that everything possible was being done to control the spread of the infection at Stoke Mandeville, the only hospital in the UK to report large numbers of cases of clostridium difficile infection. Dr Andrew Kirk, director of Infection Prevention and Control, said that the most up-to-date technology was being used to minimise the risk of infection to patients.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that the Health Protection Agency had received reports of the new strain of clostridium difficile and was keeping a “watching brief” on the situation. However, they said that the strain was rare in the UK.
Guidance issued by the Department of Health recommends that hospital staff should wash their hands with soap and water in an attempt to halt the spread of the infection.
(KMcA/SP)
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