Fatal C difficile outbreaks add weight to HAI (healthcare associated infections) report
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
An investigation into two serious outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at a single UK hospital, involving at least 33 deaths among 334 cases of infection, has pointed to "serious healthcare management failings". The report produced by the Healthcare Commission (CHAI) on the factors behind the outbreaks that occurred at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital (Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust), between October 2003 and June 2005, came as the Health Protection Agency reported a 17.2% rise in C diff infections in 2005, to almost 52,000 cases, fuelling the debate surrounding admission screening policy and related measures.