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| Hope over jab for lethal NHS bug | Hope over jab for lethal NHS bug |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British scientists are developing a vaccine to combat the life-threatening Clostridium difficile hospital bug. | British scientists are developing a vaccine to combat the life-threatening Clostridium difficile hospital bug. |
| Cambridge-based biotech firm Acambis has already carried out initial trials and is now hoping to test it in NHS hospitals later this year. | Cambridge-based biotech firm Acambis has already carried out initial trials and is now hoping to test it in NHS hospitals later this year. |
| It is thought to be the only vaccine in production for the infection. | It is thought to be the only vaccine in production for the infection. |
| There are over 50,000 C. difficile cases a year among elderly patients in England and it is linked to nearly 4,000 deaths. | There are over 50,000 C. difficile cases a year among elderly patients in England and it is linked to nearly 4,000 deaths. |
| The bug can cause diarrhoea and in some cases severe bowel inflammation. | The bug can cause diarrhoea and in some cases severe bowel inflammation. |
| It is a no-brainer. The best way to tackle this is through a vaccine and the results so far are encouraging Professor Mark Enright, of Imperial College London | It is a no-brainer. The best way to tackle this is through a vaccine and the results so far are encouraging Professor Mark Enright, of Imperial College London |
| Unlike MRSA, it is not entirely resistant to antibiotics, but once an individual has been infected the bug can often reappear. | Unlike MRSA, it is not entirely resistant to antibiotics, but once an individual has been infected the bug can often reappear. |
| The vaccine being developed works like a tetanus jab in that is focuses on the toxins produced by the infection rather than the infection itself. | The vaccine being developed works like a tetanus jab in that is focuses on the toxins produced by the infection rather than the infection itself. |
| Trials on 200 patients showed it was effective at combating one of the main toxins in 100% of cases and a second main toxin in 75% of cases. | Trials on 200 patients showed it was effective at combating one of the main toxins in 100% of cases and a second main toxin in 75% of cases. |
| Scientists hope that a course of three injections will provide long-lasting protection for over 10 years. | Scientists hope that a course of three injections will provide long-lasting protection for over 10 years. |
| Results | Results |
| Acambis vice president Dr Michael Watson said: "The toxins work together to blow up cells. | Acambis vice president Dr Michael Watson said: "The toxins work together to blow up cells. |
| "If you imagine them as a dangerous criminal, the vaccine essentially handcuffs it. | "If you imagine them as a dangerous criminal, the vaccine essentially handcuffs it. |
| "It still looks like a dangerous criminal but it can no longer use the knife or shoot the gun." | "It still looks like a dangerous criminal but it can no longer use the knife or shoot the gun." |
| Infection experts have welcomed the move. | Infection experts have welcomed the move. |
| Professor Mark Enright, from Imperial College London, said: "It is a no-brainer. The best way to tackle this is through a vaccine and the results so far are encouraging. | Professor Mark Enright, from Imperial College London, said: "It is a no-brainer. The best way to tackle this is through a vaccine and the results so far are encouraging. |
| "But we need to see how it works on a mass scale. If that is successful, this could be given to elderly patients during GP visits in the same way as the flu vaccine." | "But we need to see how it works on a mass scale. If that is successful, this could be given to elderly patients during GP visits in the same way as the flu vaccine." |
| A Department of Health spokesman said the development of the vaccine was "welcome" and confirmed discussions were under way about government involvement in trials. |