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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| C diff deaths 'continue to rise' | C diff deaths 'continue to rise' |
| (about 1 hour 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 |
| The government called for more accurate reporting of MRSA and C difficile on death certificates in 2005. | The government called for more accurate reporting of MRSA and C difficile on death certificates in 2005. |
| 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 infection is the underlying cause of death in around half of the cases. | The infection is the underlying cause of death in around half of the cases. |
| We have made infection prevention and control a legal requirement and a number one priority for the NHS Professor Brian Duerden, Department of Health | We have made infection prevention and control a legal requirement and a number one priority for the NHS Professor Brian Duerden, Department of Health |
| Professor Brian Duerden, the government's inspector of microbiology and infection control, said: "Patients have a right to high quality, safe care. | Professor Brian Duerden, the government's inspector of microbiology and infection control, said: "Patients have a right to high quality, safe care. |
| "We take this very seriously, which is why we have made infection prevention and control a legal requirement and a number one priority for the NHS. | "We take this very seriously, which is why we have made infection prevention and control a legal requirement and a number one priority for the NHS. |
| "We have taken significant steps to tackle infections, including C difficile. These include stringent hand-washing guidance for the NHS, clear guidance on appropriate antibiotic prescribing and the clinical care of patients with C. difficile. | "We have taken significant steps to tackle infections, including C difficile. These include stringent hand-washing guidance for the NHS, clear guidance on appropriate antibiotic prescribing and the clinical care of patients with C. difficile. |
| "Cases of MRSA and C. difficile infections are falling and for the first time we are seeing the number of recorded deaths from MRSA falling too. | "Cases of MRSA and C. difficile infections are falling and for the first time we are seeing the number of recorded deaths from MRSA falling too. |
| "However, people who are very ill are vulnerable to infections, not all of which are avoidable. | "However, people who are very ill are vulnerable to infections, not all of which are avoidable. |
| "We believe the rise in the number of C. difficile cases recorded as a contributing factor on death certificates does not represent a rise in actual deaths, but primarily an increase in awareness and reporting." | "We believe the rise in the number of C. difficile cases recorded as a contributing factor on death certificates does not represent a rise in actual deaths, but primarily an increase in awareness and reporting." |
| The government has said it wants to cut deaths linked to C difficile by a third by 2010-11. | The government has said it wants to cut deaths linked to C difficile by a third by 2010-11. |
| Professor Dearden said £230m was being invested each year in order to meet that target. | Professor Dearden said £230m was being invested each year in order to meet that target. |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These are horrifying statistics. The truth is that these could be avoidable deaths." | |
| There has been a fall in the number of actual cases of C difficile. | There has been a fall in the number of actual cases of C difficile. |
| In the over-65s - the main age group affected - the number fell by 9% between 2006 and 2007 to 50,392. | In the over-65s - the main age group affected - the number fell by 9% between 2006 and 2007 to 50,392. |