Cases of hospital superbug fell in Gwent last year (From Free Press Series)

Cases of hospital superbug fell in Gwent last year

4:10pm Friday 8th February 2013 in News

CASES of the superbug Clostridium Difficile fell by more than a quarter in Gwent hospitals during April-December 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.

Figures from Aneurin Bevan Health Board show that during the nine months to December, there were 165 cases of C Difficile classed as healthcareassociated, compared to 236 during April-December 2011.

The decrease continues a downward trend, though the reduction would have been even larger had there not been a rise in cases during the final three months of 2012.

During October-December there were 61 cases of healthcare- associated C Difficile recorded at Gwent hospitals, 18 per cent more than for the last quarter of 2011. Infection control experts have been reviewing recent cases to find out the reasons for the increase, and are taking action to halt it.

The Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall hospitals, and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr were the sites the increases occurred.

Each individual C Difficile case is discussed at senior manager and senior level to try to identify problems as soon as possible, and huge progress has been made in Gwent in recent years in driving down cases.

Advanced infection prevention training has been introduced for all hospital staff, and all wards are now subjected to a deep cleaning programme, along with other hospital areas.

The recent increase in cases is also a reminder that controlling superbugs is a continuous battle.

The number of healthcarelinked MRSA (methycillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) cases also fell in Gwent hospitals in the April- December 2012 period, to 14 from 18 during the same nine months in 2011.

The majority of recent cases have been at the Royal Gwent.

During the nine months to last December, no more than four cases of MRSA were recorded in any one month, and during July and August, there were no cases.