Fewer patients get hospital superbugs

Jan 30 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

THE number of patients in the North-East contracting hospital superbugs has fallen, new figures show.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) yesterday published the latest quarterly data for cases of MRSA, showing a drop from 90 to 78 in the period from July to September.

Figures for clostridium difficile could not be compared because of a new way of measuring cases, but there were 145 reports of C diff infection in patients aged between two and 64 years and 628 reports in patients aged 65 or over.

Dr John Woodhouse, regional director of the HPA in the North-East, said: “The continued downward trend in MRSA bloodstream infections in the North-East is very welcome news and a major achievement by healthcare staff across the region.

“The changes being made by the Department of Health to the way NHS trusts collect their Clostridium difficile figures are also welcomed as they should make the future information more robust.

“However, these changes aren’t yet reflected in the data published today which is why it has to be interpreted with caution.”

A spokeswoman for NHS North-East said the region was performing relatively well in bringing down infection rates.

She said: “We recognise that there is no room for complacency and prevention of infection remains one of the highest priorities for local health services.

“The strategic health authority is working in partnership with all NHS organisations in the North-East to maintain this focus and to ensure a continued drive for improvement.

“Work to reduce infections further is ongoing, and projects include expanding screening programmes, improving equipment and environment, increasing the number of matrons in hospitals and progressing the hospital deep-cleaning programme, which is planned for completion by the end of March.

“An awareness campaign has also recently been launched to encourage all health workers, patients and visitors to play their part in reducing infection.”

Further changes by the Department of Health to the reporting of MRSA bloodstream infections and C diff infections through the HPA’s mandatory surveillance scheme are taking place in 2008.

Among these is the facility for the independent sector – private hospitals and treatment centres – to report both MRSA bloodstream and C diff infections, from January 2008 onwards.

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Cases of MRSA at North-East hospitals from July to September 2007

City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 9.

County Durham and Darlington Acute NHS Foundation Trust: 5.

Gateshead Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 5.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 10.

South Tyneside Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 2.

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 22.

CASES of C diff:

City Hospitals Sunderland: 108.

County Durham and Darlington: 89.

Gateshead Health: 50.

Northumbria Healthcare: 99.

South Tyneside: 19.

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals: 171.