A HOSPITAL superbug has claimed the lives of 300 people in the last year.

There were 23 cases of Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff) alone last month in hospitals in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Of those, a total of 18 were in the 66-plus age group and a further five cases were reported in the 2-65 age group.

Meanwhile, in Hywel Dda Health Board's hospitals in Carmarthenshire, between October 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010, there were 173 cases of C. Diff out of 21,178 hospital admissions. The rate of the superbug stood at 8.17 per 100,000 admissions.

Tony Jewell, chief medical officer for Wales, revealed the levels of death linked to C. Diff in the Infection Prevention and Control conference at Swansea's Liberty Stadium.

It emerged during the event — which is understood to be the first of its kind in Wales — that healthcare-associated infections are costing the NHS a total of £87 million a year.

Dr Jewell said: "In Wales, 300 people a year have C.Diff associated with their death.

"The reasons why the figure has gone up is C.Diff was not recognised before.

"We are looking, seeking and finding why it's gone up.

"It remains a cause of death, and underlining cause or a contributory cause of death."

But he said that between February last year, and February this year there was a downward trend of cases in evidence.

He added: "Clinicians are seeing this as their priority."

Dr Jewell said ward sisters in particular were doing all they could to tackle the problem and make it their priority.

Transparent

"One of the messages today is about sharing information about infection rates and being transparent about it," he added.

"There's still work to do."

The aim of the conference, which was jointly organised by Swansea University and the Assembly Government, and took place in Swansea's Liberty Stadium, was to discuss the latest developments in the prevention and control of infection.

An Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board spokeswoman said good progress was being made in its hospitals in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. It said that in January there were 17 cases of the superbug — 15 in the 66-plus category and two in the 2-65 age group. In December there were 32 cases.

The spokeswoman said: "ABMU Health Board has achieved a 31 per cent reduction in C.Diff cases over the last year, and has the lowest number of cases in Wales when compared to other large health boards."

A Hywel Dda Health Board spokeswoman said: "Hywel Dda Health Board monitors every C.diff case to ensure they are managed appropriately. "Infection prevention and control, pharmacy and medical staff are involved and the findings are fed back to clinical teams regularly. All wards also undertake monthly hand hygiene audits with the results fed back to staff.

"All patients with C.Diff are provided with a care bundle to ensure they are nursed in a side room to prevent the spread of infection, are prescribed appropriate antibiotics, hand hygiene is undertaken after every contact, and equipment is decontaminated appropriately after use."

"The environment is cleaned on a daily basis with disinfectant and they are offered hand washing before every meal."

elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk