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'SUPERBUG' casualty figures set to soar ! Numbers of patients who have suffered from - or been killed by - C. Difficile are set to soar after it emerged that the statistics have only been collected for those aged 65 or over ! Although more prevalent among the elderly - they are not the only people who can fall victim to this infection ! 2006 figures revealed 55,634 reported cases - with younger sufferers, such as 18 yr-old Private Jamie Cooper (injured in Iraq) and 21 yr-old Lucy Turner (being treated for pneumonia) both appearing in Newspaper features, but not being included in the national statistics. WHAT IS 'Clostridium difficile' ? C. difficile - is a species of bacteria of the genus Clostridium - which are spore-forming rod-like structures - and is the most significant cause of severe infection of the colon, often after normal gut 'flora' - the famous "good bacteria" - is eradicated by the use of antibiotics. It is present in nature and especially prevalent in soil. It produces various toxins which are responsible for the diarrhea and inflammation seen in infected patients. The rate of Clostridium difficile acquisition is estimated to be 13 % in patients with hospital stays of up to two weeks and 50 % in those with hospital stays longer than four weeks. It is possible that mild cases do not need treatment but patients should be treated as soon as possible when diagnosed to avoid frank sepsis or bowel perforation. Three antibiotics are effective. Also, Infection Control Measures, such as wearing gloves when caring for patients with CDAD, have been proven to be effective in limiting the spread of C. difficile in the hospital setting. The Alcohol Gels advocated for use in wards by visitors is effect against MRSA - but it takes a good washing (scrubbing) with strong soap and water to get rid of C. diff. And you might be 'amused' by this version of 'QUOTE / UNQUOTE' .. "There is to be no let up in our drive to raise standards of hospital cleanliness" - said Alan Milburn, as Health Secretary on Tuesday, 10 April, 2001 as he threatened to 'name and shame' hospitals who failed to meet basic hygiene standards. "We are delighted that the government ...reject the option of introducing criminal sanctions against NHS trusts " said Dr Gill Morgan, of the NHS Confederation (chief executive) when it was announced that 'Dirty' hospitals were to escape financial penalty charges - at the time of Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.- Friday, 15 July, 2005 And also, from the recent high-publicity C. difficile incidents in the south of England .. "The xxxx & xxxxxx hospital has got cleaning problems, I've been aware of those for the last six months. I've put a massive amount of improvements into them, and I'm going to continue to put improvements into the hospital until we get it to the level we want it to be. It will take nine months." June 2004 "This issue is receiving my full and personal attention." June 2004 "We have set down a new culture of what we expect from the cleaning staff." Sept 2004 "If we find anything can be further improved it will be a top priority." July 2006 "The trust takes the care and safety of its patients extremely seriously. The trust will now... identify, develop and implement any additional measures that can be made to further improve patient care and safety." Sept 2006 "xxxx & xxxxxx Hospital has taken a range of additional infection control measures which include ward closures, additional ward cleaning and isolation of patients in side rooms." Sept 2007 And then again, "If you want to ask questions why don't you go to the trust – it's got nothing to do with xxx !" Oct 2007
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