THE NUMBER of cases of Clostridium difficilereported by hospitals across the State has increased by more than 26 per cent in the first six months of this year.
The significant rise in cases of the potentially life-threatening healthcare-associated infection is being closely monitored, according to Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick, consultant microbiologist and the Health Service Executive’s clinical leader for healthcare-associated infections.
Some 1,013 cases of the bug, which can spread rapidly in hospitals, were reported to the national Health Protection Surveillance Centre between January and June this year compared to 801 cases over the same period in 2010.
Last year’s figures represented a falling trend, down from 1,090 cases in the first half of 2009 but this trend has now been reversed.
Dr Fitzpatrick said she believed the rise in infections this year was partly due to the use of a more sensitive test to detect the bug following new European guidelines. “Most labs have changed their testing to a more sensitive test,” she said.
She added there could also be a real increase in cases of infection but there had been no reports of more outbreaks of C difficileor it could also be that the strains of the bug were changing.
“But it’s certainly something we have to watch and, as with any bug, we have to be vigilant and ask questions,” she said.
Asked if there was a possibility cases of the bug were increasing due to cutbacks at hospitals over the past year, Dr Fitzpatrick said handwashing and using antibiotics properly – which were important steps in preventing the bug and its spread – did not cost money.
“Keeping people safe has to be all of our priorities and it is.”
C difficilecauses a diarrhoea-type infection in vulnerable patients already on antibiotic therapy for other conditions. In severe cases it can cause death.