Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :
" The spokesperson for TWGHs Wong Tai Sin Hospital (WTSH) made the following update today (February 28) regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases in a tuberculosis and chest ward.
One more 34-year-old female patient who previously stayed in the ward presented with diarrhoea symptoms. The test results for the patient concerned were positive for Clostridium Difficile toxin. The patient was transferred to Kwong Wah Hospital on February 22. She is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition.
Admission to the ward concerned has been suspended and restricted visiting to the ward has also been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close medical surveillance."
Showing posts with label Clostridium Difficile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clostridium Difficile. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Hong Kong : Cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases at Wong Tai Sin Hospital
Press release from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection :
" Five patients (two male and three female, aged 60 to 78) in a tuberculosis and chest ward recently presented with diarrhoea symptoms. Appropriate tests were arranged for the patients and they were found to be positive to Clostridium Difficile toxin. Four of the patients are being treated under isolation, of whom three are in a stable condition while one is in a serious condition due to underlying chronic disease. The other patient recovered and has been discharged.
Admission to the ward concerned has been suspended and restricted visiting has also been imposed. Infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close medical surveillance."
" Five patients (two male and three female, aged 60 to 78) in a tuberculosis and chest ward recently presented with diarrhoea symptoms. Appropriate tests were arranged for the patients and they were found to be positive to Clostridium Difficile toxin. Four of the patients are being treated under isolation, of whom three are in a stable condition while one is in a serious condition due to underlying chronic disease. The other patient recovered and has been discharged.
Admission to the ward concerned has been suspended and restricted visiting has also been imposed. Infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close medical surveillance."
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Canada : Patient dies of C. difficile in Cape Breton
Via CBC News, excerpt :
" A Nova Scotia man whose mother died after contracting a hospital-acquired infection says the Cape Breton Regional Hospital needs to clean up its act before more people die.
Clostridium difficile has been determined as a contributing factor in the death of Julia Young, 88."
" A Nova Scotia man whose mother died after contracting a hospital-acquired infection says the Cape Breton Regional Hospital needs to clean up its act before more people die.
Clostridium difficile has been determined as a contributing factor in the death of Julia Young, 88."
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Canada : Health district trying to curb C. difficile
Via Herald News, excerpt :
" It seems particularly cruel when sick people who enter hospital to get better end up getting a hospital-acquired illness.
And if the bacterium you pick up happens to be Clostridium difficile, the cruelty can be magnified.
"There is quite a spectrum of clinical illness, everything from no symptoms to very severe," says Dr. Kevin Forward, a microbiologist with Dalhousie University.
"There can be very serious involvement, dehydration, decrease in kidney function and the bowel can cease to work."
Bowel function can be so severely affected that the wall of the bowel can perforate and leak poisons into the rest of the body.
While C. difficile can be found in any hospital or long-term care facility, two recent outbreaks at Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney have raised concerns about the potentially fatal bacterium.
An outbreak early last year was linked to the deaths of 11 patients in seven of the nine hospitals under the direction of the Cape Breton district health authority. A total of 64 patients contracted C. difficile before the outbreak was declared over in May.
A Public Health Agency of Canada report on the outbreak was published just days before the latest occurrence in December."
" It seems particularly cruel when sick people who enter hospital to get better end up getting a hospital-acquired illness.
And if the bacterium you pick up happens to be Clostridium difficile, the cruelty can be magnified.
"There is quite a spectrum of clinical illness, everything from no symptoms to very severe," says Dr. Kevin Forward, a microbiologist with Dalhousie University.
"There can be very serious involvement, dehydration, decrease in kidney function and the bowel can cease to work."
Bowel function can be so severely affected that the wall of the bowel can perforate and leak poisons into the rest of the body.
While C. difficile can be found in any hospital or long-term care facility, two recent outbreaks at Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney have raised concerns about the potentially fatal bacterium.
An outbreak early last year was linked to the deaths of 11 patients in seven of the nine hospitals under the direction of the Cape Breton district health authority. A total of 64 patients contracted C. difficile before the outbreak was declared over in May.
A Public Health Agency of Canada report on the outbreak was published just days before the latest occurrence in December."
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Canada : Hospital north of Toronto battling C. difficile outbreak
Via CTV, excerpt :
" A hospital north of Toronto is fighting an outbreak of Clostridium difficile.
Markham Stouffville Hospital officials aren't saying how many people have the potentially deadly bacteria, but say two units at the Markham site are affected.
The hospital says it is limiting visits to patients on those units in an effort to prevent the spread of the infection.
Hospital workers are also ramping up handwashing and equipment cleaning procedures.
C. difficile is a bacterial infection that can lead to diarrhea in those who contract it."
" A hospital north of Toronto is fighting an outbreak of Clostridium difficile.
Markham Stouffville Hospital officials aren't saying how many people have the potentially deadly bacteria, but say two units at the Markham site are affected.
The hospital says it is limiting visits to patients on those units in an effort to prevent the spread of the infection.
Hospital workers are also ramping up handwashing and equipment cleaning procedures.
C. difficile is a bacterial infection that can lead to diarrhea in those who contract it."
Friday, December 23, 2011
Canada : C. difficile outbreak at Cape Breton hospital
Via CBC News, excerpt :
" Three patients have been diagnosed with C. difficile in a Cape Breton hospital.
The Cape Breton District Health Authority is restricting visitors to the Intermediate Care Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital because of an outbreak of the hospital-acquired infection, Clostridium difficile."
" Three patients have been diagnosed with C. difficile in a Cape Breton hospital.
The Cape Breton District Health Authority is restricting visitors to the Intermediate Care Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital because of an outbreak of the hospital-acquired infection, Clostridium difficile."
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Hong Kong : Update on cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases in TWGHs Wong Tai Sin Hospital
Press release from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection :
" The spokesperson of TWGHs Wong Tai Sin Hospital (WTSH) made the following update today (December 22) regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases in a tuberculosis and chest ward:
One more 88-year-old male patient in the ward has presented with diarrhoea symptoms. The test result of the patient concerned was positive for Clostridium Difficile toxin. He is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition.
Admission to the respective ward has been suspended and restricted visiting to the area has also been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance."
" The spokesperson of TWGHs Wong Tai Sin Hospital (WTSH) made the following update today (December 22) regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases in a tuberculosis and chest ward:
One more 88-year-old male patient in the ward has presented with diarrhoea symptoms. The test result of the patient concerned was positive for Clostridium Difficile toxin. He is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition.
Admission to the respective ward has been suspended and restricted visiting to the area has also been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance."
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Hong Kong : Update on cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases in Kowloon Hospital
More press release from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection, excerpt :
" The spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following update today (December 20) regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases in a female rehabilitation ward.
One more patient, aged 80, in the ward has presented with diarrhoea symptoms. The test results of the patient concerned were positive for Clostridium Difficile toxin. She is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition. In addition, four patients, aged 50 to 79, in a male rehabilitation ward have presented with diarrhoea symptoms since December 17. The test results of the patients concerned were positive for Clostridium Difficile toxin. They are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition.
Admissions to the two wards have been suspended. Restricted visiting to the wards has also been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the wards concerned are under close surveillance."
" The spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following update today (December 20) regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases in a female rehabilitation ward.
One more patient, aged 80, in the ward has presented with diarrhoea symptoms. The test results of the patient concerned were positive for Clostridium Difficile toxin. She is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition. In addition, four patients, aged 50 to 79, in a male rehabilitation ward have presented with diarrhoea symptoms since December 17. The test results of the patients concerned were positive for Clostridium Difficile toxin. They are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition.
Admissions to the two wards have been suspended. Restricted visiting to the wards has also been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the wards concerned are under close surveillance."
Friday, December 16, 2011
Hong Kong : Cluster of Clostridium Difficile toxin cases in Kowloon Hospital rehabilitation ward
Via Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection :
" The spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (December 16):
Three female patients aged 71 to 94 in the rehabilitation ward have presented with diarrhoea since December 10. The test results of the patients were positive for the Clostridium Difficile toxin. They are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition.
Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visits to the ward have been imposed. Infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward concerned are under close surveillance.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow up."
" The spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (December 16):
Three female patients aged 71 to 94 in the rehabilitation ward have presented with diarrhoea since December 10. The test results of the patients were positive for the Clostridium Difficile toxin. They are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition.
Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visits to the ward have been imposed. Infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward concerned are under close surveillance.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow up."
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Australia : Superbug strain detected in Melbourne
Via The Australian :
" A new strain of the deadly superbug that has killed thousands of people in the northern hemisphere has mysteriously emerged in Australia.
It is understood that seven cases of a variant strain of the virulent and contagious bacteria Clostridium difficile 207 have been identified by an Australian laboratory in the past two years, including some recent cases, but public health authorities have not made this public.
The new strain in normally found in pigs, but humans can also contract the disease.
The puzzle, health experts say, is how it came to be here as Australian pigs are thought to be free of the bacteria.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital confirmed last night that a patient was admitted on October 17 and tested positive for the 078 strain of C. Diff."
" A new strain of the deadly superbug that has killed thousands of people in the northern hemisphere has mysteriously emerged in Australia.
It is understood that seven cases of a variant strain of the virulent and contagious bacteria Clostridium difficile 207 have been identified by an Australian laboratory in the past two years, including some recent cases, but public health authorities have not made this public.
The new strain in normally found in pigs, but humans can also contract the disease.
The puzzle, health experts say, is how it came to be here as Australian pigs are thought to be free of the bacteria.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital confirmed last night that a patient was admitted on October 17 and tested positive for the 078 strain of C. Diff."
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Scotland : Hygiene standards slated at hospital where five died in C diff outbreak
An article from News Scotsman :
" A SCOTTISH hospital that suffered a major outbreak of the superbug Clostridium difficile has been criticised by inspectors over dirty equipment and standards of hygiene.
Their report on Ninewells Hospital in Dundee found poor compliance with hand hygiene rules, soiled equipment marked as clean and overfilled dirty linen bags.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) also highlighted concerns about a patient who was being treated on a ward with other patients without specific equipment dedicated for that person's use.
Concerns about the hospital have been raised in previous reports, and health secretary Nicola Sturgeon yesterday called for improvements to be made "as a matter of urgency".
Five patients died at Ninewells during an outbreak of C difficile in 2009. The cases are being looked at as part of the public inquiry into C difficile deaths at the Vale of Leven hospital in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire."
" A SCOTTISH hospital that suffered a major outbreak of the superbug Clostridium difficile has been criticised by inspectors over dirty equipment and standards of hygiene.
Their report on Ninewells Hospital in Dundee found poor compliance with hand hygiene rules, soiled equipment marked as clean and overfilled dirty linen bags.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) also highlighted concerns about a patient who was being treated on a ward with other patients without specific equipment dedicated for that person's use.
Concerns about the hospital have been raised in previous reports, and health secretary Nicola Sturgeon yesterday called for improvements to be made "as a matter of urgency".
Five patients died at Ninewells during an outbreak of C difficile in 2009. The cases are being looked at as part of the public inquiry into C difficile deaths at the Vale of Leven hospital in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire."
Monday, November 15, 2010
Researchers Develop Light Technology to Combat Hospital Infections
Via Science Daily :
" ScienceDaily (Nov. 15, 2010) : A pioneering lighting system that can kill hospital superbugs -- including MRSA and C. difficile -- has been developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
The technology decontaminates the air and exposed surfaces by bathing them in a narrow spectrum of visible-light wavelengths, known as HINS-light.
Clinical trials at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have shown that the HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System provides significantly greater reductions of bacterial pathogens in the hospital environment than can be achieved by cleaning and disinfection alone, providing a huge step forward in hospitals' ability to prevent the spread of infection.
This novel decontamination technology was discovered and developed by a multidisciplinary team of experts, Professor Scott MacGregor (Electrical Engineer), Professor John Anderson and Dr Michelle Maclean (Microbiologists) and Professor Gerry Woolsey (Optical Physicist)."
" ScienceDaily (Nov. 15, 2010) : A pioneering lighting system that can kill hospital superbugs -- including MRSA and C. difficile -- has been developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
The technology decontaminates the air and exposed surfaces by bathing them in a narrow spectrum of visible-light wavelengths, known as HINS-light.
Clinical trials at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have shown that the HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System provides significantly greater reductions of bacterial pathogens in the hospital environment than can be achieved by cleaning and disinfection alone, providing a huge step forward in hospitals' ability to prevent the spread of infection.
This novel decontamination technology was discovered and developed by a multidisciplinary team of experts, Professor Scott MacGregor (Electrical Engineer), Professor John Anderson and Dr Michelle Maclean (Microbiologists) and Professor Gerry Woolsey (Optical Physicist)."
Sunday, May 30, 2010
US : Clostridium perfringens at Central Louisianna Hospital: what went wrong?
Via Food Poison Journal :
" The Clostridium perfringens outbreak that occurred in early May at Central Louisianna State Hospital was recently linked to contaminated chicken salad. 40 people were sickened in the outbreak, and three people died. So what went wrong? Environmental health findings--i.e. the investigation at the hospital's kitchen--have not yet been released, but the outbreak almost certainly occurred as a result of improper food handling procedures.
Clostridium perfringens is a very common pathogen in foodpoisoning outbreaks; some estimates set clostridium perfringens as the third most common cause of foodpoisoning illnesses. Most clostridium perfringens outbreaks are ultimately linked to contaminated meat, and many such outbreaks occur after holiday meals. The reason? The cooking of whole fowl species, such as chicken and turkeys, that are cooled improperly after cooking. For instance, the CDC reported on a clostridium perfringens outbreak in 2008 that occurred at a Wisconsin jail, stating as follows regarding the environmental investigation at the jail's kitchen:
On August 8, the environmental health sanitarian from the local health department met with jail kitchen supervisors and employees of the food distribution company to assess food preparation and employee health and hygiene practices. The macaroni and ground beef in the implicated casserole were cooked the day before. The sanitarian determined that food temperatures had not been obtained or recorded consistently, and documentation of cooling temperatures for both the ground beef and macaroni, where cooling from 70°F to 41°F (39°C to 23°C) is a vital step, could not be provided. An inspection of the cooler revealed improper handling and cooling of taco meat, which was being prepared for a future meal and was not implicated in this outbreak; some containers of meat were cooled with ice paddles and other containers were not."
" The Clostridium perfringens outbreak that occurred in early May at Central Louisianna State Hospital was recently linked to contaminated chicken salad. 40 people were sickened in the outbreak, and three people died. So what went wrong? Environmental health findings--i.e. the investigation at the hospital's kitchen--have not yet been released, but the outbreak almost certainly occurred as a result of improper food handling procedures.
Clostridium perfringens is a very common pathogen in foodpoisoning outbreaks; some estimates set clostridium perfringens as the third most common cause of foodpoisoning illnesses. Most clostridium perfringens outbreaks are ultimately linked to contaminated meat, and many such outbreaks occur after holiday meals. The reason? The cooking of whole fowl species, such as chicken and turkeys, that are cooled improperly after cooking. For instance, the CDC reported on a clostridium perfringens outbreak in 2008 that occurred at a Wisconsin jail, stating as follows regarding the environmental investigation at the jail's kitchen:
On August 8, the environmental health sanitarian from the local health department met with jail kitchen supervisors and employees of the food distribution company to assess food preparation and employee health and hygiene practices. The macaroni and ground beef in the implicated casserole were cooked the day before. The sanitarian determined that food temperatures had not been obtained or recorded consistently, and documentation of cooling temperatures for both the ground beef and macaroni, where cooling from 70°F to 41°F (39°C to 23°C) is a vital step, could not be provided. An inspection of the cooler revealed improper handling and cooling of taco meat, which was being prepared for a future meal and was not implicated in this outbreak; some containers of meat were cooled with ice paddles and other containers were not."
Saturday, May 29, 2010
UK : Hospital starting to beat the superbugs
Via Northwest Evening News :
" FURNESS General Hospital has enjoyed its most successful year yet in the fight against infections.
The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, met government targets for the number of patients with superbugs MRSA and clostridium difficile across its hospitals in the last financial year.
There were 12 cases of MRSA across UHMBT, four of which were at FGH. This is the first year the trust has met that target since it was set.
There were 24 cases in 2006/2007 and 20 cases in the financial years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.
There were 85 cases of clostridium difficile across the whole of the trust from April last year to April this year, which is well within the target of 192 cases."
" FURNESS General Hospital has enjoyed its most successful year yet in the fight against infections.
The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, met government targets for the number of patients with superbugs MRSA and clostridium difficile across its hospitals in the last financial year.
There were 12 cases of MRSA across UHMBT, four of which were at FGH. This is the first year the trust has met that target since it was set.
There were 24 cases in 2006/2007 and 20 cases in the financial years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.
There were 85 cases of clostridium difficile across the whole of the trust from April last year to April this year, which is well within the target of 192 cases."
Thursday, May 27, 2010
British Columbid : Clostridium difficile contributed to two deaths, caused third
Via BClocal news :
" Doctors have determined that infection with Clostridium difficile was a contributing factor in two patient deaths at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Medical reviews of five of the six patients who had C. diff when they died are now completed.
Medical reviews of three other patients were completed two weeks ago, which found one death was caused by C. diff, while the other two deaths were due to other medical problems."
" Doctors have determined that infection with Clostridium difficile was a contributing factor in two patient deaths at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Medical reviews of five of the six patients who had C. diff when they died are now completed.
Medical reviews of three other patients were completed two weeks ago, which found one death was caused by C. diff, while the other two deaths were due to other medical problems."
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Australia : Killer virus found in Melbourne
Via Herald Sun :
" A DEADLY stomach bug that has killed thousands in North America and Europe is in Melbourne.
A private Melbourne hospital last night confirmed three elderly patients had been infected with the killer strain, and it was likely to be more widespread.
Epworth Hospital executive medical director Megan Robertson said this hypervirulent strain of Clostridium difficile had not been previously detected in Australia.
"But having said that the testing in Australia is very limited,'' Dr Robertson said.
"The hypervirulent strain is quite difficult to get tested in Australia, and in fact we had to send our specimens to a laboratory in Western Australia.
''She said the three patients to test positive were potentially just the tip of the iceberg across the country. "
" A DEADLY stomach bug that has killed thousands in North America and Europe is in Melbourne.
A private Melbourne hospital last night confirmed three elderly patients had been infected with the killer strain, and it was likely to be more widespread.
Epworth Hospital executive medical director Megan Robertson said this hypervirulent strain of Clostridium difficile had not been previously detected in Australia.
"But having said that the testing in Australia is very limited,'' Dr Robertson said.
"The hypervirulent strain is quite difficult to get tested in Australia, and in fact we had to send our specimens to a laboratory in Western Australia.
''She said the three patients to test positive were potentially just the tip of the iceberg across the country. "
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