Eleventh patient dies of C. difficile at Quebec hospital

[ruthbeme]

Canadian Press

<!-- dateline -->ST-HYACINTHE, Que.<!-- /dateline --> ? The C. difficile bacteria has claimed an 11th life at the same hospital, the institution said Tuesday.
The Honore-Mercier Hospital in St-Hyacinthe, east of Montreal, confirmed that 31 patients have been infected since July.
An internal report prepared for the hospital cited poor hygiene for the outbreak.
The report by an official responsible for disease control noted inadequate disinfection measures, including one bed that was used by three infected patients who died.
The hospital said no new cases of infection have been reported since it began a disinfection program required by the provincial Health Department.
Health Minister Philippe Couillard said the number of cases at the hospital reinforces the need for vigilance and appropriate precautions.
Mr. Couillard said the infection rate across the province has decreased by 40 per cent since 2004.
?It's not because we greatly improved the situation that the problem can be considered under control in local establishments and regions.?
He said the government-mandated measures put in place across the province should remain a permanent component of the health-care system.
?By definition, the problem of hospital infections is a persistent problem that will always remain part of the health system,? Mr. Couillard said.
?We must never let our guard down.?
C. difficile is commonly found in older hospital patients taking antibiotics and is transmitted by physical contact with the bacteria.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061107.wcdiffi1107/BNStory/National/home

 

[ruthbeme]

Re: Eleventh patient dies of C. difficile at Quebec hospital



"Basically the same article as above but with a little more information."
Quebec orders inquiry into 11 C. difficile deaths at hospital near Montreal

19:29:07 EST Nov 8, 2006

Canadian Press


<!--end of storyhead--><!--updated p--><!--updated para--><!-- CPPara1-->QUEBEC (CP) - The Quebec government is ordering a coroner's inquest into the deaths of 11 people from C. difficile at the same hospital east of Montreal.
<!-- CPPara1End--><!--updated p--><!--updated para--><!-- CPPara2-->Health Minister Philippe Couillard said Wednesday there is enough evidence to conclude that proper sanitary procedures were not followed at Honore-Mercier Hospital in St-Hyacinthe.
<!-- CPPara2End--><!--updated p--><!--updated para--><!-- CPPara3-->An internal report prepared for the hospital cited poor hygiene for the outbreak, including a case of one bed being used by three infected patients who ended up dying.
<!-- CPPara3End--><!--start of p-->Couillard says it's not a matter of finding a scapegoat but rather of knowing what caused the deaths.
<!--start of p-->"The goal of the inquiry is not to investigate the Clostridium difficile infection," Couillard said. "It's important to remember that infections of this type will always be present in hospitals.
<!--start of p-->"What is unusual is that after the information that was given in the hospital's internal documents, there were major deviations in protocols that were observed at the hospital."
<!--start of p-->He said the important thing is to find out what happened so all health care institutions can learn from the experience.
<!--start of p-->It is unclear how long the public inquiry will last.
<!--start of p-->C. difficile is commonly found in older hospital patients taking antibiotics and is transmitted by physical contact with the bacteria.
<!--start of p-->Parti Quebecois Leader Andre Boisclair criticized the government's efforts to date and said Quebecers are "not only afraid to go on our roads but are now also afraid to go in our hospitals."
<!--start of p-->Couillard said the government's actions have proven effective and the rate of infections in hospitals has gone down on average 40 per cent.
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/061108/x110850.html