8 July 2009
The number of patients being infected by Clostridium difficile (also known as C. difficile) at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals continued to fall during the first part of this year, according to new figures published by the Health Protection Agency.
The data shows that the number of C. difficile infections dropped by more than 15 per cent during January to March compared with the same period in 2008.
Cases of C. difficile have been steadily declining for the past 18 months at the hospitals, with a massive 45 per cent reduction in cases over the last financial year – during April 2008 to March 2009, 271 patients contracted the illness, compared to 493 during the previous year.
Peter Coles, interim Chief Executive for the Trust said: “We are dedicated to the fight against infections, and these new figures reflect exactly that. The prevention and control of infections is our number one priority, and with such a huge reduction in the number of C difficile cases, it is clear that the hard work is paying off.
“However, whilst we are very pleased with the figures, there is no room for complacency. We must continue to do all we can to bring the number of infections acquired in our hospitals to an absolute minimum.”
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 to raise awareness of the importance of infection control and prevention. Called The gloves are off – help us beat infections, the campaign stresses the importance of people using alcohol rub before entering and on leaving ward areas and encourages patients and visitors to ask staff if they believe they have not washed their hands.
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For more information about the Trust’s fight against healthcare acquired infections, including the new awareness campaign, visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/infectioncontrol.
