This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7585668.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
C diff deaths 'continue to rise' | C diff deaths 'continue to rise' |
(10 minutes later) | |
The number of deaths involving the hospital bug Clostridium difficile in England and Wales rose by 28% between 2006 and 2007, official figures show. | The number of deaths involving the hospital bug Clostridium difficile in England and Wales rose by 28% between 2006 and 2007, official figures show. |
The Office for National Statistics data reports C difficile was mentioned on 8,324 death certificates compared to 6,480 in the previous year. | The Office for National Statistics data reports C difficile was mentioned on 8,324 death certificates compared to 6,480 in the previous year. |
Experts say the increase may partly be due to better reporting of the infection. | Experts say the increase may partly be due to better reporting of the infection. |
However, deaths from the superbug MRSA fell slightly over the same period. | However, deaths from the superbug MRSA fell slightly over the same period. |
It went down from 1,652 in 2006 to 1,593 in 2007 - the first time the number of MRSA-related deaths has fallen since the ONS began keeping records in 1993. | It went down from 1,652 in 2006 to 1,593 in 2007 - the first time the number of MRSA-related deaths has fallen since the ONS began keeping records in 1993. |
Reporting | Reporting |
In 2005 - when there were just 3,757 mentions of C difficile on death certificates - the government called for more accurate reporting of MRSA and C difficile on death certificates. | In 2005 - when there were just 3,757 mentions of C difficile on death certificates - the government called for more accurate reporting of MRSA and C difficile on death certificates. |
The following year - 2006-07, the number of cases where C difficile was mentioned as a factor in a death soared by 72%. | The following year - 2006-07, the number of cases where C difficile was mentioned as a factor in a death soared by 72%. |
The latest figures show that the proportion of deaths where it is cited as the underlying cause of death remained similar - at around 55%. | The latest figures show that the proportion of deaths where it is cited as the underlying cause of death remained similar - at around 55%. |
But number of actual cases of reported cases of C difficile in the over-65s - the main age group affected - fell by 9% from 55,635 in 2006 to 50,392 in 2007. |