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Superbug C-Diff outbreak at Drogheda Hospital

An outbreak of the bacterium infection clostridium difficile (C Diff) has been confirmed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Two patients at the hospital have died from the infection over the last number of days while another 10 patients have tested positive for the superbug. Infection Control Procedures have now been implemented at the hospital to try and contain the outbreak

The C Diff bug causes: diarrhoea, abdominal pain, inflammation of the colon, fever, vomiting and dehydration. It is the biggest cause of diarrhoea in patients who have had antibiotic therapy and is prevalent particularly in elderly patients with underlying illnesses. The diarrhoea can contaminate areas around the patient's beds and toilet areas and spores can survive a long enough time to cause hand to mouth infection.

It was made a notifiable disease in May 2008 and guidelines were published to deal with potential outbreaks such as this one. These guidelines which were published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre state that the three most important factors for prevention and control of the superbug are:
1.Sensible prescribing of antibiotics
2.Isolation of infected patients and good infection control practices.
3.Enhanced environmental cleaning of patient care areas.

The infection control procedures at Drogheda have put a number of wards into isolation and the public have been asked not to visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary. GPs and patients with medical complaints have been asked to seek attention at neighboring hospitals in Navan, Cavan, Dundalk and Dublin until the outbreak is brought under control.

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