Health Battle to Defeat Superbug

Its troublesome presence on hospital wards across Northern Ireland is unfortunately not new. In 2006, C.difficile overtook MRSA as the biggest superbug killer in our hospitals for the first time. New figures released last September showed that there were 63 deaths registered with links to C.difficile in hospitals across the province that year, in comparison with 56 for MRSA.

Recent confirmation that there have been 16 C.difficile-linked deaths at hospitals in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust since last July alone is disturbing. It’s also alarming that medical experts have attributed an official outbreak in the trust area to the emergence of a more virulent form of the bacteria called ribotype 027.

It is believed to be the first time this strain has emerged in Northern Ireland.

According to the London Department of Health’s online guide to C.difficile: "This strain produces much more of the toxins than most other types because a mutation has knocked out the gene that normally restricts toxin production.

"It causes a greater proportion of severe disease and appears to have a higher mortality. It also seems to be very capable of spreading between patients."

C.difficile causes illness when the carrier is treated with antibiotics which wipe out normal bacteria.

The Northern Trust has now declared an official outbreak of the superbug, deemed when cases reach higher than expected levels, and has implemented an action plan.

The Antrim Area Hospital has been worst hit by the deadly bug in the Northern area. Ten of those who died with the bug were patients there, while five others died at Whiteabbey and one elderly person at Braid Valley in Ballymena.

A dedicated ward has been established at Antrim Area for patients with C.difficile. But the Northern Trust is also asking the public to play its part in the battle. Hospital visitors should wash their hands with soap and water before and after (alcohol gel alone does not kill the spores) and not visit if they are suffering any illness. They should also only visit their own relative, not bring children and not sit on patient beds.

While reasons for the cause and spread of C.difficile are complicated, this most recent outbreak has again raised questions about hospital hygiene.

The Alliance Party’s health spokesman Kieran McCarthy is calling for a full review of cleaning procedures in the NHS on the back of the outbreak.

"These revelations are absolutely devastating. The Health Minister (Michael McGimpsey) must consider instituting a full review into cleaning procedures and look into conducting deep cleaning in our hospitals," he said.

The SDLP’s Carmel Hanna, who sits on the Stormont health committee, is asking for all patients going into hospital to be screened before admission.

"Hospitals are places for sick people who are vulnerable to infection so it’s about doing everything possible to reduce the outbreak from spreading further. That means screening all patients, increasing staff hygiene and cracking down on visiting procedures to ensure patients are protected against contamination. It is a case of everybody being involved – right from the cleaners to the porters, right up to the consultants. And personal hygiene has a lot to do with it. Nobody should get anywhere near a hospital ward without washing their hands."

(c) 2008 Belfast Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.