17 April 2009
The number of patients being infected with Clostridium difficile (also known as C. difficile) at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals dropped by almost 40 per cent last year according to new data published this week.
Latest figures released by the Health Protection Agency show that in 2008, 262 people aged 65 and over contracted the infection compared to 433 in 2007.
Peter Coles, interim Chief Executive for the Trust said: "Infection control is the Trust's number one priority, so we are extremely pleased with these figures.
"This massive drop in the number of cases reflects the hard work of all our staff and volunteers, and the co-operation of our patients and visitors, in the fight against infections. I would like to thank everyone involved in doing their bit to drive down the number of Clostridium difficile cases."
The new figures come on top of data released by the Health Protection Agency last month which showed that the Trust had seen a cut of a third in the number of cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) last year.
Peter added: "Combined with the 33% cut in MRSA cases we announced last month, I hope local people and patients will see how committed we are to reducing the number of healthcare acquired infections we have in our hospitals."
Despite being very pleased with the figures, there is no room for complacency. Peter adds: "While the figures are very good, we must continue to do all we can prevent and control the spread of infections."
Over the last eighteen months, the Trust has introduced a number of high profile measures to control and prevent infections, including:
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Increasing the training given to all staff;
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Daily monitoring of devices and drips;
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Extending our MRSA screening programme so that we can detect and treat it quicker;
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Undertaking a £300,000 deep clean of our hospitals;
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Carefully prescribing antibiotics.
The Trust has also launched a new campaign in the fight against infection called The gloves are off – help us beat infections.
The new campaign has seen hundreds of specially designed posters depicting images of boxing gloves with the slogan 'Join us in our fight against infection and help knock 'em out forever' have gone up across the Trust's hospitals.
They stress the importance of using alcohol rub before entering and on leaving ward areas and encourage patients and visitors to ask staff if they believe they have not washed their hands or are bare below the elbows when providing direct clinical care.
