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Bug hospital avoids prosecution Bug hospital avoids prosecution
(40 minutes later)
A hospital at the centre of a Clostridium difficile outbreak which caused 33 deaths will not face criminal proceedings, safety officials say.A hospital at the centre of a Clostridium difficile outbreak which caused 33 deaths will not face criminal proceedings, safety officials say.
The Health and Safety Executive ruled there was not enough admissible evidence to prosecute Stoke Mandeville Hospital bosses in Buckinghamshire.The Health and Safety Executive ruled there was not enough admissible evidence to prosecute Stoke Mandeville Hospital bosses in Buckinghamshire.
But the HSE said there were areas where the hospital could have done more.But the HSE said there were areas where the hospital could have done more.
It comes after a watchdog found "serious failings" by management in their handling of the outbreaks.It comes after a watchdog found "serious failings" by management in their handling of the outbreaks.
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE The bacteria are naturally present in the intestine but kept under control by other bacteriaAntibiotics can kill some of these, allowing C. difficile to take holdOveruse of antibiotics is linked to the infection's riseC. difficile is not resistant to treatment, but some cases are difficult to treatThe strain seen at Stoke Mandeville hospital is related to one which has emerged in the US and CanadaCLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE The bacteria are naturally present in the intestine but kept under control by other bacteriaAntibiotics can kill some of these, allowing C. difficile to take holdOveruse of antibiotics is linked to the infection's riseC. difficile is not resistant to treatment, but some cases are difficult to treatThe strain seen at Stoke Mandeville hospital is related to one which has emerged in the US and Canada
The Healthcare Commission said the hospital, run by the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, failed to follow advice on stopping the spread of infection.The Healthcare Commission said the hospital, run by the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, failed to follow advice on stopping the spread of infection.
Two outbreaks took place at the Aylesbury hospital between October 2003 and June 2005, and overall 334 patients were infected.Two outbreaks took place at the Aylesbury hospital between October 2003 and June 2005, and overall 334 patients were infected.
The bacterium usually cause diarrhoea but can lead to fevers or more serious infections.The bacterium usually cause diarrhoea but can lead to fevers or more serious infections.
The HSE is also investigating the handling of C. difficile outbreaks at Kent's Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in which 90 people died.
Sandra Caldwell, HSE director of field operations said they launched the investigation into Stoke Mandeville because there was the possibility that serious criminal offences had been committed.
But added: "On the basis of the evidence available, HSE id not find sufficient admissible evidence to be able to bring criminal proceedings against the Trust, alleging a link between management failures and particular deaths."