The Health Protection Agency has today (Jan 30^th 2007) released figures for the rate of infection with the hospital ‘super-bugs’ Cl. Difficile and MRSA.

 

Infection rates with Clostridium difficile (Cl. difficile) were shown to have risen by 5.5% for the first three quarters of 2006 when compared to the same period in 2005.

Although this increase is smaller than in previous years, rates of infection with this bug remain high across England.

 

MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) bloodstream infections for the 6 months of April to September 2006 show a fall in infection rates by around 5%.

Dr Georgia Duckworth, head of the Agency's Healthcare Associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance Department, said: “While there are some encouraging signs in today's figures, there clearly remains much to be done. Cases of Clostridium difficile infection continue to rise: there may be some slowing down in the rate of increase, but it is too early to say for sure. We will need to await further figures to assess whether initiatives that have been put in place are having an effect.” “With MRSA rates we are still seeing a plateau rather than any significant decrease, but the good news is that we can now say with confidence that reported rates are no longer rising.”

Professor Peter Borriello, Director of the Agency's Centre for Infections, said: “Providing mandatory surveillance figures quarterly enables us to publish this important information in a timely manner, and is part of the Agency's commitment to open, independent reporting. The results will play a vital role in helping hospitals measure their success in trying to reduce these infections.” “However it is important to remember that the vast majority of patients do not get an infection in hospital and that not all infections are preventable. Some of these infections are the consequences of advances in medicine which now allow patients to survive, when a few years ago they were more likely to die.”