C diff infections rise by 6%
Updated on 17 July 2008
The number of cases of superbug Clostridium difficile (C diff) has risen by 6 per cent but figures show an 11 per cent drop in MRSA infections.
The figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said there were 10,586 cases of C diff in patients aged 65 and over between January and March this year and 966 cases of MRSA.
Annual figures showed a decline for both infections, with a 30 per cent drop in MRSA in the financial year 2007/08 compared with 2006/07.
Dr Georgia Duckworth, head of the HPA's healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance department, said: "The substantial drop we have seen in MRSA bloodstream infections over the past year is impressive and a credit to the hard work of our colleagues in the NHS, strengthening good practice in infection control.
"If we are to continue this reduction in healthcare-associated infections it is vital that the measures which have won this significant success remain in place and that the public and healthcare workers recognise their importance."
She continued: "Although there has been mandatory reporting of C difficile since 2004, this past year has seen major changes to improve the reporting system.
"We now have a more robust system that will enable us to measure the levels of this infection better and help trusts manage and monitor the effectiveness of their interventions to improve infection control."
Professor Peter Borriello, director of the HPA's centre for infections, said: "It is worth remembering that not all healthcare-associated infections are preventable.
"However, this shouldn't lead to complacency around tackling the infections that are preventable and engaging in the battle to continually drive down rates of healthcare-associated infections.
"These figures show that there can be, and have been, significant reductions."
Graham Tanner, chairman of the patient group National Concern for Healthcare Infections, said: "A genuine reduction in hospital-acquired healthcare infections is good news for patients.
"NHS staff should be congratulated on their efforts. There should, however, be no room for complacency or relaxation of effort.
"Great suffering continues to be caused to tens of thousands of patients, their relatives and carers.
"Overall incidence of bloodstream infections is increasing and the severity of infection and growing resistance to antibiotics continue to cause concern.
"Greater investment in research is required if the current and future danger from bacteria infection is to be averted."
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