Two die in Louth C Diff outbreak

Two patients who died in a Louth hospital during the week have had their deaths referred to the Coroner in an effort to determine if a contagious bacteria outbreak at the hospital was responsible.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda has had services curtailed and banned visitors in an attempt to curtail the Clostridium Difficile (C Diff) outbreak

In a statement released today the Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed the deaths at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda were notified to the Coroner to determine if C Diff was responsible.

It said: “If a patient dies who may have been exposed to or who had contracted C Diff their death is notified to the Coroner who is responsible for determining if C Diff was the cause of and/or contributory factor to their death.”

Infection Control Procedures have been implemented at the hospital and members of the public are asked not to visit.

To date there has been 10 confirmed and two suspected cases reported and up to 17 hospital beds are closed to new admissions.

Health officials have also stopped all elective admissions, including elective scopes, however, outpatient clinics are continuing at the hospital for the moment.

Dr Dominic O’Brannigan, clinical director for the HSE, said C diff is not uncommon in hospitals and for most patients would mean only mild symptoms, but it can seriously affect a small number of patients.

“The situation in Our Lady of Lourdes is that normally, in any given month, we would have approximately three cases, and that is in keeping with the norms in other hospitals in Ireland,” he said.

“Over the course of the last ten days we’ve actually seen a significant increase in the number of cases that we have isolated.” Around 17 beds have been closed to new admissions because of the infection.

The HSE said the outbreak was in its “escalation phase” at the moment and it would not be able to predict how long it would take to bring under control.

Affected patients are being treated with antibiotics.

Hospital chiefs said outpatient services were operating as normal, but adult patients with medical conditions are being referred to Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan or their nearest hospital in north Dublin.

Adult patients needing surgery are being directed to Cavan General Hospital as well as Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan and hospitals in north Dublin.

The HSE urged people only to attend the emergency departments at Drogheda if absolutely necessary and to contact their GP or out of hours service beforehand.