Hospital superbug cases go on falling
THE number of patients catching hospital infections in Scotland continues to fall, a new report has revealed.
For the third year in a row there has been a significant drop in the number of elderly people suffering clostridium difficile. Around 2200 cases were recorded last year 38% down on 2009.
It appeared the rate of decline was slowing earlier last year, but there was a sudden dip in the last three months of the period.
Levels of the superbug MRSA, which have been in decline for five years, also fell. Infections dropped 33% during 2010, according to the analysis by monitoring agency Health Protection Scotland (HPS).
A crackdown on prescription of antibiotics is thought to be behind these trends. Screening patients for MRSA before they are admitted to hospital for operations is also thought to have made a difference.
Better hygiene practices in hospitals, including more intensive cleaning and hand-washing, may also have had an impact.
Professor Jacqui Reilly, HPSs lead consultant for healthcare-linked infections, said: While we are making good progress, we must guard against complacency and ensure that we remain focused on preventing and controlling these evolving and complex infections.
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