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Hospital superbug deaths reviewed Hospital superbug deaths reviewed
(about 9 hours later)
An inquiry into a fatal outbreak of the superbug Clostridium difficile at Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, is to report its findings. An inquiry into a fatal outbreak of the superbug Clostridium difficile at Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, has reported its findings.
Three people died and a total of 37 were infected in the outbreak in March and April 2008.Three people died and a total of 37 were infected in the outbreak in March and April 2008.
Health Minister Edwina Hart ordered Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) to review how the former North Glamorgan NHS Trust managed the outbreak. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) commended the former North Glamorgan NHS Trust's response to the outbreak but said there were lessons to learn.
The review is expected to identify what lessons can be learnt. Cwm Taf NHS Trust, the successor body, said it welcomed the review's findings.
Health Minister Edwina Hart ordered the HIW review into the outbreak.
In addition to the three patients who died directly as a result of the bacterium, the superbug was also listed on the death certificates of four others.In addition to the three patients who died directly as a result of the bacterium, the superbug was also listed on the death certificates of four others.
Cwm Taf NHS Trust, the successor organisation to North Glamorgan NHS Trust, which was responsible for the hospital at the time of the outbreak, said a "deep clean" of the hospital was carried as part of the infection control response.Cwm Taf NHS Trust, the successor organisation to North Glamorgan NHS Trust, which was responsible for the hospital at the time of the outbreak, said a "deep clean" of the hospital was carried as part of the infection control response.
Infection controlInfection control
The HIW review is expected to recognise that a number of factors contributed to the outbreak but the hospital trust took effective steps to deal with it. The HIW said it recognised that a number of factors contributed to the outbreak but the hospital trust took effective steps to deal with it.
Staff were working to minimise the outbreak with daily meetings to monitor and manage its control and to ensure patients with Clostridium difficile were appropriately isolated to minimise the potential transmission of infection. Its report said staff were working to minimise the outbreak with daily meetings to monitor and manage its control and to ensure patients with Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) were appropriately isolated to minimise the potential transmission of infection.
However, the report is expected to identify a number of areas which required improvement, including greater consideration to the use of appropriate antibiotics, affected wards remaining closed for longer and further restrictions on the movement of patients. However, the report identified a number of areas which required improvement, including greater consideration to the use of appropriate antibiotics, affected wards remaining closed for longer, and further restrictions on the movement of patients.
The report will also examine staff shortages and infection control training for staff. The report found staff shortages affected infection control training for staff.
BacteriaBacteria
HIW chief executive Peter Higson said: "Cleanliness and infection control must be one of the top priorities for any healthcare organisation.
"North Glamorgan NHS Trust who are now part of Cwm Taf NHS Trust must be commended for recognising the seriousness of their situation in the spring of last year and for taking urgent steps to manage the Clostridium difficile outbreak.
"However, it is a tragedy when patients die as a result of an infection outbreak and it is entirely right that HIW should be asked to review the management of infection outbreaks to check whether improvements can be made and lessons need to be learnt."
Mr Higson said the NHS trust had already taken steps to address the report's recommendations and the findings had informed the All Wales Review of the Management of Patients with Diarrhoea and Vomiting, on which HIW is to report in the autumn.
'Good practice'
Cwm Taf NHS Trust chief executive, Margaret Foster, said: "We very much regret the impact this outbreak had on our patients and apologise for any deficiencies in the care provided.
"The quality and safety of care to patients is the trust's number one priority.
"We accept the findings of the report which provides a balance of good practice with lessons to learn.
"Following our own internal review, we have already introduced measures to address many of the recommendations contained within this report."
C. difficile is a bacterium found in the gut, and in healthy adults and children it rarely causes problems.C. difficile is a bacterium found in the gut, and in healthy adults and children it rarely causes problems.
But people over the age of 65 years are more susceptible to contracting infection, particularly if they are on antibiotics which disrupt the "normal" bacteria in the gut.But people over the age of 65 years are more susceptible to contracting infection, particularly if they are on antibiotics which disrupt the "normal" bacteria in the gut.
Symptoms range from mild diarrhoea to severe inflammation of the bowel, which can occasionally be fatal.Symptoms range from mild diarrhoea to severe inflammation of the bowel, which can occasionally be fatal.