Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

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Source: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9020273.html

C. difficile outbreak contributes to deaths in C.B. hospital
Elderly patients on antibiotics particularly vulnerable
By MARY ELLEN MacINTYRE Cape Breton Bureau
Wed, Mar 23 - 2:34 PM

SYDNEY — A hyper-virulent strain of C. difficile contributed to the deaths of four Cape Breton Regional Hospital patients in the last six weeks.

Right now there are 21 patients stricken with this strain of the bacteria-related illness at hospitals in Sydney, Glace Bay and New Waterford.

The outbreak has severely restricted visitors to all 11 hospitals, community health centres and continuing care facilities in the Cape Breton district health authority.

Only immediate family members over the age of 12 are allowed to visit.

“It's the NAP1 strain...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 4 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 4 deaths

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/03/25/ns-health-districts-cdifficile.html

Health districts on alert for C. difficile
CBC News
Posted: Mar 25, 2011 7:49 AM AT
Last Updated: Mar 25, 2011 7:49 AM AT

Nova Scotia's health authorities say their numbers of C. difficile cases remain stable following an outbreak in Cape Breton.

The Cape Breton District Health Authority reports 21 cases of the bacterial infection. Four patients have died in the past few weeks.

The province's infection prevention control centre has been busy fielding calls...

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Source: http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1234836.html


Update on C. difficile expected today

By MARY ELLEN MacINTYRECape Breton Bureau
Fri, Mar 25 - 4:54 AM

SYDNEY — A Cape Breton infectious disease specialist expects to update the situation today involving bacterial infections showing up at some island hospitals.

The Cape Breton district health authority issued a news release Wednesday in the wake of four recent deaths at Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney believed to be connected to a hypervirulent strain of Clostridium difficile, more commonly known as C. difficile.

Citing health concerns for elderly and weakened patients who may contract the illness, the health authority has restricted visitors to hospitals, continuing-care centres and community health centres.

No one under age 12 will be allowed to visit patients and strict handwashing protocols have been put in place.

As well, stringent precautions are being taken to ensure the outbreak doesn’t spread further. Those precautions include using chlorine bleach in certain areas of the hospitals and paying extra attention to handwashing and sterilization procedures.

C. difficile usually becomes a problem to elderly or extremely sick patients who have been...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Source: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9020464.html

C. difficile linked to another C.B. death

By EVA HOARE Staff Reporter
Tue, Apr 5 - 3:01 PM

The powerful superbug C. difficile has contributed to another death in Cape Breton.

The Cape Breton Regional District Health Authority said a patient in palliative care recently died and the virus was a ?contributing factor.? No other information was released about the patient.

It?s believed this most recent case has brought the number of Cape Breton deaths related to the superbug, called Clostridium Difficile, to five. The four previous deaths were elderly people, health officials said.

Six new cases of the virus have been identified, and all are currently inpatients at a hospital, said a health authority press release issued Tuesday.

There are now 26 patients in hospital with confirmed cases of C. difficile, which more dramatically affects those over 65, or those with other medical problems whose immune systems have been compromised...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

CAPE BRETON DISTRICT HEALTH AUTHORITY

For Immediate Release:
April 5, 2011​

District C.difficile Update #4:

http://www.cbdha.nshealth.ca/IC2/Intranet/includes/secure_file.cfm?ID=418&menuID=5050

Previous reports:
http://www.cbdha.nshealth.ca/IC2/Intranet/bulletinboard/view_items.cfm?MenuID=5050&CategoryID=24

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Source: http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/...ll-working-to-control-C.-difficile-outbreak/1

Health authority still working to control C. difficile outbreak
Published on April 8, 2011
Laura Jean Grant RSS Feed

SYDNEY ? An antibiotic stewardship program is being considered by the Cape Breton District Health Authority in light of an ongoing outbreak of Clostridium difficile at district facilities...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Source: http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/...new-inpatient-cases-of-C.difficile-reported/1

Four new inpatient cases of C.difficile reported
Published on May 15, 2011
Published on May 15, 2011
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed


SYDNEY ? There have been four new inpatient cases of Clostridium difficile diagnosed at Cape Breton District Health Authority facilities.

The DHA?s previous update on the outbreak was May 2. There are now 20 patients in hospital who have a confirmed hospital-acquired case of C. difficile. There have been no new inpatient deaths where C.difficile has been identified as a contributing factor.

While the outbreak is not over, the district is lifting general visitor restrictions at two facilities with C. difficile patients...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 5 deaths

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/06/10/ns-c-difficile-cape-breton-malcom.html

Cape Breton has learned C. difficile lessons
CBC News
Posted: Jun 10, 2011 9:56 PM AT

The Cape Breton District Health Authority has taken a number of steps to prevent further deadly outbreaks of C. difficile, CEO John Malcom said Friday at a news conference...

...here were 49 in-hospital cases of C. difficile reported since the beginning of the year in Cape Breton, and the bacteria was implicated in six hospital deaths.

Thirty-two patients were infected at Cape Breton Regional Hospital and 11 patients acquired the bacteria at the Glace Bay Hospital. The remaining cases were at the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital, Harbour View Hospital and at Buchanan Memorial Community Health Centre.

Another 15 cases of C. difficile were acquired in the health district from other sources.

Dr. Shoaib Ansari, the district's infectious disease specialist, said medical personnel were able to work closely with patients' families to contain the outbreak ...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 6 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 6 deaths

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/07/20/ns-cdifficile-cape-breton-mother.html

C. difficile protocols not followed: patient's family
CBC News
Posted: Jul 20, 2011 10:44 AM AT
Last Updated: Jul 20, 2011 10:44 AM AT


A North Sydney man whose mother caught C. difficile says hospital workers continue to break infection control protocols.

Brian Young's mother was admitted to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital eight weeks ago after suffering a stroke. Just over a week ago, the family was told she had C. difficile, a bacterial infection linked to four deaths in the area.

Young said his 88-year-old mother had been suffering from diarrhea, a symptom of C. difficile, for three weeks.

"We were floored," he told CBC News. "You heard so much about C. diff in the hospitals, how now it was under control ? Well, no, it's not."

Young said his family saw hospital staff use antibacterial gels instead of soap and a doctor enter the room of a C. difficile patient without being fully gowned.

The family notified hospital administrators...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 6 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak- 6 deaths

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-...22/ns-c-difficile-more-cases-cape-breton.html

3 new C. difficile cases in Cape Breton
CBC News
Posted: Jul 22, 2011 4:54 PM AT
Last Updated: Jul 22, 2011 4:54 PM AT


The Cape Breton District Health Authority has confirmed three new cases of C. difficile.

All cases are on the fourth floor of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney.

Health Authority spokesman Greg Boone said increased restrictions have been imposed on all units on that floor, except pediatrics.

But, Boone said this isn't an outbreak ? they are just taking precautions...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak - 49 cases, 11 deaths

Re: Cape Breton, Canada: C.Diff outbreak - 49 cases, 11 deaths

Handling of C. difficile outbreak criticized

CBC News

Posted: Dec 16, 2011 10:07 PM AT

The Public Health Agency of Canada has criticized some of the Cape Breton District Health Authority's practices in handling the Clostridium difficile outbreak earlier this year.

Between January and May of this year, the health authority reported 49 cases of C. difficile, which is the most frequent cause of infectious diarrhea in Canadian hospitals.

Of those 49 patients, 11 people died, and the Public Health Agency of Canada said four of those deaths were the direct result of the infection they received while they were in the hospital.

John Malcom, the CEO of the Cape Breton District Health Authority, made a public apology about the way the health authority dealt with the outbreak.

"We want to express our condolences and our apology. We acknowledge that we let people down during this process," he said Friday.

More...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/12/16/ns-c-difficile-report.html?cmp=rss

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/12/22/ns-cape-breton-c-difficile.html

C. difficile outbreak at Cape Breton hospital
CBC News
Posted: Dec 22, 2011 9:02 PM AT
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2011 10:28 PM AT

There are visitor restrictions in the Intermediate Care Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital because of the C. difficile outbreak.There are visitor restrictions in the Intermediate Care Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital because of the C. difficile outbreak. (CBC)

Three patients have been diagnosed with C. difficile in a Cape Breton hospital.

The Cape Breton District Health Authority is restricting visitors to the Intermediate Care Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital because of an outbreak of the hospital-acquired infection, Clostridium difficile...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/12/28/ns-c-difficile-cape-breton-hospital.html

No new outbreaks of C. difficle at Cape Breton hospital
CBC News
Posted: Dec 28, 2011 4:48 PM AT
Last Updated: Dec 28, 2011 4:47 PM AT

An outbreak of C. difficile at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital is still confined to the Intermediate Care Unit.

Three patients continue to be treated for the bacterium Clostridium difficile. They began treatment last week...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/...strictions-extended-to-second-hospital-unit/1

C. difficile restrictions extended to second hospital unit
Published on December 31, 2011

The Clostridium difficile outbreak has been declared at a second unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

SYDNEY ? The Clostridium difficile outbreak has been declared at a second unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

Following an infection control meeting, Saturday, the Cape Breton District Health Authority is reporting three new cases of hospital acquired C. difficile among the 32 patients in unit 4B...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/01/06/ns-c-difficile-deaths.html?cmp=rss

2 patients with C. difficile die in Cape Breton
CBC News Posted: Jan 6, 2012 5:40 PM

Two patients recently diagnosed with the Clostridium difficile bacteria have died at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

The Cape Breton District Health Authority said in a release that one of the patients acquired C. difficile in the hospital...

...more at link

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ar...-deaths-bringing-total-to-four-137310713.html

Cape Breton hospital reports two C. difficile deaths bringing total to four
By: The Canadian Press

Posted: 01/13/2012 5:08 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies)


SYDNEY, N.S. - The Cape Breton District Health Authority says two more patients have died as a result of a C. difficile outbreak.

That brings the total to four after two people died of the infection last week at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/01/20/ns-cdifficile-death.html

Patient dies of C. difficile in Cape Breton
88 year-old woman infected three times since May: family
CBC News
Posted: Jan 20, 2012 12:04 PM AT
Last Updated: Jan 20, 2012 1:24 PM AT

Another patient has died from a Clostridium difficile infection in Cape Breton.

Julia Young, 88, was admitted to Cape Breton Regional Hospital in May after suffering a stroke. Her family said it was the third C. difficile infection Young contracted in the hospital...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/...blames-hospital-for-mom&rsquos-C.-difficile/1

Man blames hospital for mom?s C. difficile
Published on January 20, 2012

By Greg McNeil Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY ? Hospital procedures are being questioned following the fifth death where hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile has been identified as a contributing factor.

Julia Young, 88, who died on Wednesday, was admitted to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in May after she suffered a stroke.

Over the next eight months she would acquire C. difficile at least two times.

?She caught C. difficile about six months ago,? said Brian Young, her son. ?It was the Quebec strain, the deadly one, but she overcame it and became negative and then they gave it to her again.?

The current C. difficile outbreak was first announced, Dec. 22 on the intermediate care unit of the regional hospital. A second outbreak was later reported, Dec. 23, in unit 4B.

Young thinks his mother contracted the infection three times, but the health authority has told him it was only twice...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/...-death-reported-during-C-difficile-outbreak/1

Sixth death reported during C. difficile outbreak
Published on January 27, 2012
By Greg McNeil-Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY ? The Cape Breton District Health Authority is reporting a sixth death related to the current outbreak of hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile.

Although a further review will take place, initial analysis indicates the C. difficile was not the cause of the patient?s death...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/59029-cb-hospital-still-vigilant-about-c-difficile

C.B. hospital still vigilant about C. difficile
February 4, 2012 - 4:34am By MARY ELLEN MacINTYRE Cape Breton Bureau
Six patients died during last outbreak, study underway

SYDNEY ? The outbreak of C. difficile at Cape Breton Regional Hospital is over but hospital staff remain on guard.

"We are maintaining a hyper-vigilant state to minimize the possibility of it coming back," said Dr. Shoaib Ansari, infectious disease specialist with the Cape Breton district health authority.

This most recent outbreak of the bacterium saw six patients die with the hospital-acquired illness.

"We?re still doing the study of those deaths," said Ansari on Friday.

It is important to know the deaths were not necessarily caused by the illness, he said...

 

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Re: Cape Breton, Canada: 2011 C.Diff outbreaks

Source: http://www.mysask.com/portal/site/m...x.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

Report on C. difficile at Cape Breton hospital blames unit layout, hygiene
The Canadian Press
Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:09:00 CST

SYDNEY, N.S. - A new report says the layout of Cape Breton Regional Hospital's intermediate care unit and the failure of staff to properly wash their hands contributed to a recent outbreak of C. difficile...