Norfolk hospitals winning superbug fight


03 January 2008 15:00

Bosses at a hospital where 17 people died following a superbug outbreak today claimed to be on their way to wiping out the infection.

Since the deaths at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston from Clostridium difficile, almost a year ago, efforts have been stepped up to control rates of infection.

Some £400,000 was invested in a deep cleaning programme and more than 40 extra members of staff were taken on to tackle the bug, which causes severe inflammation of the bowels.

The JPUH has now reported that there were only eight cases during the last recorded quarter, to September 2007, compared to 161 episodes from January to March 2007.

Wendy Slaney, medical director at the JPUH, said: “The trust continues to concentrate on the effectiveness of the full range of infection control measures. This focus is reflected in the consistent improvements in both MRSA and C diff.

“The trust has made a month on month improvement with C diff and also with MRSA with just four cases in the last quarter compared with seven cases for the first quarter, as outlined in the latest published Health Protection Agency statistics.

“The trust monitors healthcare acquired infections robustly and takes any action necessary to protect our patients. This includes working with partner organisations within the community. The approach taken here has proved effective and received national recognition.”

This outbreak of the bug was the virulent 027 strain and 17 people died from December 2006 to March 2007.

The bug forms spores, can be spread through the air and is present as one of the normal bacteria in the gut of up to 3pc of healthy adults. It can cause illness when certain antibiotics disturb the balance of normal bacteria in the gut. Its effects can range from minor sickness symptoms in some cases to diarrhoea of variable severity which may resolve once antibiotic treatment is stopped, through to severe inflammation of the bowel which can be life threatening.

However it can be spread more easily if surface areas wards and people are not following basic hygiene routines.

Since the outbreak a range of stringent measures include taking on 43 extra cleaning staff, opening an isolation ward, restricting the use of antibiotics and educating staff about hand washing.

The deep cleaning technique involves a special dust trapping system and increasing steam cleaning.

At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital rates have also been reduced through infection control measures. The latest figures for July to September 2007 showed there were 80 C diff cases compared to 97 for the same period in 2006.

An N&N spokesman said: “Both our C diff and MRSA rates continue to fall, despite being the busiest hospital in the region, and treating increasing numbers of patients.

“Our hospitals are also the only ones rated excellent for cleanliness in the region. Infection control is our top priority and we will continue to reduce levels as far as we possibly can.”

The Government has come under fire for promising a “deep cleaning” programme but failing to outline exactly what that would entail.

Have you been affected by C diff or any other superbug? Call Sarah Hall on 01603 772426 or email sarah.hall2@archant.co.uk

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