Concern Over Increase in Superbug Cases

FEARS were voiced last nightthat lives are being put at risk after new figures showed Clostridium difficile infection cases reported in older patients rose by eight per cent in a year.The Health Protection Agency’s latest statistics showed 55,681 cases of the potentially fatal bug in patients aged 65 years and above in England last year. In 2005, 51,767 cases were reported.Rates of infection remained high, the agency said, particularly in small acute trusts, but compared favourably with the 17 per cent increase in reported cases between 2004 and 2005.MRSA bloodstream infection cases were down seven per cent.Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said: “Older people are the group most at risk of contracting C. difficile.”We know this is a major concern for older people and their families when they go into hospital.”It is clear that not all hospitals are doing enough to stop the spread of C. difficile and therefore patients’ lives are being put at risk.” C. difficile causes diarrhoea ranging from mild cases to severe illness.

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