Clostridium difficile infections rising, but MRSA figures down

Published: 2-Feb-2007


The number of cases of Clostridium difficile infection in patients aged 65 years and above in England in the first three quarters of 2006 rose by 5.5% over the same period in 2005 to 42,625, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

While this is a smaller increase than seen previously, rates of infection remain high across England and the results show clearly the scope for improvement.

However, the latest MRSA bloodstream infection figures were down 5% for the period April to September to 3,391 cases.

'While there are some encouraging signs, there clearly remains much to be done,' said Dr Georgia Duckworth, head of the Agency's healthcare associated infection & antimicrobial resistance department. 'Cases of Clostridium difficile infection continue to rise: there may be some slowing down in the rate of increase, but it is too early to say for sure. We will need to await further figures to assess whether initiatives that have been put in place are having an effect.

'With MRSA rates we are still seeing a plateau rather than any significant decrease, but the good news is that we can now say with confidence that reported rates are no longer rising.'

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