Hospital superbugs rife

From the archive, first published Sunday 29th Apr 2007.

THE extent of infections from superbug infections in Basildon and Southend Hospital has been revealed.

The problem is rife in Basildon. Southend's figures are better but health officials admit it is a serious issue.

The Health Protection Agency said clostridium difficile, which mainly affects pensioners, has hit record levels in Basildon and is costing millions of pounds to fight.

Meanwhile, a report by independent researchers Dr Foster shows there were 794 people diagnosed with MRSA at the hospital in the past year - compared to just 29 cases at Southend.

On top of this, 553 cases of clostridium difficile, known as C-diff, were revealed at Basildon Hospital - compared with 345 cases at Southend.

Basildon Hospital bosses insisted MRSA rates were dropping.

Luenne Featherstone, the hospital's communications manager, said: "Infection control is a major priority for hospitals everywhere, and we are constantly looking at ways to reduce the rate of infection.

"All staff are trained in how to reduce the spread of infection, and we work closely with domestic staff to ensure high standards of cleaning. Our MRSA rates show a year on year reduction."

Ms Featherstone said they were giving priority to isolating patients with C-diff, limiting the movement of patients, ensuring staff wore appropriate protective clothing and carrying out enhanced cleaning of wards and equipment, to prevent the spread of infection.

But Graham Tanner, chairman of National Concern for Health Care Infections, said: "This is very disturbing.

"C-diff is a potentially fatal infection and it hits elderly people harder than anyone."

Roger Sage, consultant microbiologist, said: "We admit this is a real problem. New strains have come over from North America and it is hard to combat.

"We appreciate how upsetting it is for those who have suffered from the infection. We just want to assure them that combating the disease is at the top of our list."

In Southend Hospital, 29 people were diagnosed with MRSA and 345 people with C-difficile over the past financial year.

Pat Stone, press and publications manager, said: "Like all other hospitals in the UK, we face a constant struggle to keep infections under control, and have introduced a number of measures specifically to counter C-diff."

She said the hospital had introduced a more rigorous cleaning regime, stricter controls of hand washing procedures, and a review of its antibiotic prescribing policy

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