C.diff rates falling in hospitals

Leicester hospitals have seen rates of clostridium difficile (C.diff) infection drop by more than half, according to new national figures.

Managers attribute this to a number of measures including an isolation ward at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, and the introduction of a visitors' hand wash.

The infection rates have dropped for the third year running.

C.diff is a major cause of antibiotic associated diarrhoea and colitis which mostly affects elderly patients.

Director of infection prevention and control Pauline Tagg said: "We have made it our priority to make our hospitals a safe place for our patients.

"These figures run to March 2008, but our own surveillance since these figures were collected indicate cases continue to reduce.

"But we are not complacent and are committed to continuing our efforts to further reduce the presence of infections within our hospitals."

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