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December 24, 2009
NANAIMO – The Vancouver Island Health Authority’s Infection Prevention and Control Program has declared the current outbreak of Clostridium Difficile (C. difficile) over.
The outbreak was declared on November 17, 2009 after physicians and staff noted higher numbers of Clostridium Difficile (C. difficile) cases at NRGH. The presence of C. difficile in hospital settings is not new and is not unique to VIHA; it presents challenges to health care providers throughout the industrialized world.
Declaring the outbreak ensured staff, physicians, patients and visitors had heightened awareness and vigilance, particularly around increased infection control practices. These included:
- Enhanced cleaning, including hand washing and additional cleaning of patient areas, toilets, beds, and equipment.
- Increased surveillance and monitoring
- Placing patients in private rooms, or co-horting affected patients
VIHA initially declared the outbreak after 11 cases were noted over a four week time period. Usually an average of five patients at any one time may have C. difficile at NRGH.
In total, this outbreak involved 15 cases (meaning there were four additional cases between November 17 and December 11). In two of these cases C difficile was associated with the death of the patient. Both patients had underlying conditions.
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Media Contact:
Val Wilson
VIHA Communications
250-739-6303 or cell 250-713-3911
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