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November 17, 2009
NANAIMO – The Vancouver Island Health Authority’s Infection Prevention and Control Program is reporting higher numbers of Clostridium Difficile (C. difficile) cases at NRGH, prompting the declaration of an outbreak at the hospital.
“The presence of C. difficile in hospitals is not new and not unique to VIHA – this organism is a persistent challenge in care settings throughout the industrialized world,” said Dr. Richard Stanwick, VIHA’s Chief Medical Health Officer. “The declaration of an outbreak ensures staff, physicians, patients and visitors have heightened awareness and vigilance around this issue, and that enhanced infection control practices and response can take place to mitigate the impact and spread.”
Over the past four weeks ending November 13, NRGH saw 11 cases of C. difficile, compared to 5 cases in the four weeks ending October 16 and 6 cases in the four weeks ending September 18. Currently, 7 patients at NRGH have confirmed C. difficile. Based on traditional patterns, it is expected that an average of 5 patients at any one time may have C. difficile at NRGH.
“We are taking this seriously, and monitoring the situation carefully,” said Dr. Martin Wale, Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control at VIHA. “Enhanced processes have already been put in place, including stepped up surveillance and monitoring, increased cleaning and changed cleaning solutions, contact precautions for care providers and placing patients with C. difficile in single rooms to prevent transmission. So far we have no evidence of patient to patient transmission.”
A previous C. difficile outbreak at NRGH ended May 12, 2009. Two reports were commissioned which made recommendations on how to better detect and respond more effectively to future outbreaks. Many recommendations were implemented during a recent C. difficile outbreak at Saanich Peninsula Hospital which resulted in a return to normal C. difficile levels within four months.
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Media Contact:
Val Wilson
VIHA Communications
250-739-6303 |
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