Scarborough C. diff cases down 30%
CASES of C. difficile at Scarborough and Bridlington hospitals have reduced by 30%, with the trust 20 cases under its target for 2010/11. Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust has confirmed 119 cases during the financial year 2010/11. Of these, 46 were attributed to the trust, which puts it 30% below its target. This compares to 170 confirmed cases in the previous year, 45% of which were attributed to the trust. Sue Peckitt, lead infection control nurse, said: "The achievements relating to the reduction of C. difficile cases and the control of its spread is phenomenal and due to the hard work of all our staff." Control measures taken to date include the opening of an isolation unit with enhanced staffing and cleaning, the introduction of new antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, the introduction of hydrogen peroxide fogging, increased education among staff, and the introduction of executive-led infection prevention walk rounds.
