Written Question · S3W-24275 · Session 3
Further to the answer to question S3W-23283 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 May 2009, how many individual cases of Clostridium difficile there hav…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23283 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 May 2009, how many individual cases of Clostridium difficile there have been since the outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital was first identified in May 2008, broken down by hospital and showing the number of fatalities.
The answer
Mandatory surveillance of Clostridium difficile in the over 65 age group by NHS board was introduced in September 2006. This information is collected by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and published in quarterly reports on their website. The latest Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD) report for the fourth quarter of 2008 (1 October to 31 December 2008) was published on 8 April 2009; and the next report for quarter ending March 2009 is due to be published on 8 July 2009.
Official data on the number of Clostridium difficile related deaths, by NHS board and by hospital, are published by the General Register for Scotland (GROS) on an annual basis. Validated data for calendar year 2008 will be published by GROS in August 2009.
All NHS boards are now required to collect real time data on infection rates by hospital and specialty. These reports are published on NHS board websites, and from autumn 2009 will be extended to include information on HAI related deaths.
The data provided in the following table are provisional and should be treated with caution. Encouragingly, this unvalidated data of Clostridium difficile cases for the period May 2008 to May 2009 would appear to indicate a significant downward trend in the number of incidences over the same period the previous year. The information obtained from NHS boards reveals that there were 6,264 Clostridium difficile cases between May 2007 to April 2008. The total in the following table reveals that between May 2008 and May 2009 the number fell to 4,789 cases of Clostridium difficile. This is a fall of 1,475 cases (a 23.5% reduction).
The date of each incidence has not been given to preserve the anonymity of patients.
Board
| Hospital
| Numbers of Positive Cases per Hospital
Ayrshire and Arran
| Ayrshire Central
| 39
Ailsa
| 4
Arran War Memorial
| 4
Ayr
| 185
Biggart
| 60
Crosshouse
| 261
Davidson
| 9
East Ayrshire Community
| 11
Kirklandside
| 5
Official data on the number of Clostridium difficile related deaths, by NHS board and by hospital, are published by the General Register for Scotland (GROS) on an annual basis. Validated data for calendar year 2008 will be published by GROS in August 2009.
All NHS boards are now required to collect real time data on infection rates by hospital and specialty. These reports are published on NHS board websites, and from autumn 2009 will be extended to include information on HAI related deaths.
The data provided in the following table are provisional and should be treated with caution. Encouragingly, this unvalidated data of Clostridium difficile cases for the period May 2008 to May 2009 would appear to indicate a significant downward trend in the number of incidences over the same period the previous year. The information obtained from NHS boards reveals that there were 6,264 Clostridium difficile cases between May 2007 to April 2008. The total in the following table reveals that between May 2008 and May 2009 the number fell to 4,789 cases of Clostridium difficile. This is a fall of 1,475 cases (a 23.5% reduction).
The date of each incidence has not been given to preserve the anonymity of patients.
Board
| Hospital
| Numbers of Positive Cases per Hospital
Ayrshire and Arran
| Ayrshire Central
| 39
Ailsa
| 4
Arran War Memorial
| 4
Ayr
| 185
Biggart
| 60
Crosshouse
| 261
Davidson
| 9
East Ayrshire Community
| 11
Kirklandside
| 5
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-24275 by reference.