C diff to blame for 3 deaths at hospital

27 Mar 2009

An outbreak of the superbug clostridium difficile (c diff) has been directly responsible for the death of 3 patients at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

The hospital reports that the deaths had occurred since January. C diff also contributed to the deaths of another ten patients since Christmas.

Earlier this month the hospital closed its doors to new admissions after 6 new cases of c diff were found. Wards at the hospital have been closed for deep cleaning.

In total there have been 62 cases of c diff at the hospital since January. C diff rarely causes problems in healthy adults and children, but can cause severe problems for the elderly and frail, particularly if they are already on antibiotics.

Jane Hentley, chief nurse, said: “We’ve had about 20% more patients coming into hospital and those patients have been elderly and frail and have had flu-like symptoms and chest infections, which has required them to have antibiotics.”

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