Superbugs on rise at Royal Oldham

MORE people have become infected with potentially fatal superbugs while in the Royal Oldham Hospital, according to the latest statistics.

MRSA and Clostridium Difficile (C.dif) infections have been creeping up, with four cases or MRSA recorded during the first three months of this year.

There were no cases recorded during the previous quarter (October-December).

During the same period, 42 patients caught C.dif at the hospital — double the 21 in the final three months of last year.

However, cases for both infections in the first quarter of this year were down on the same period last year, with six cases of MRSA and 60 cases of C.dif recorded between January and March 2008.

Vic Crumbleholme, associate director of nursing at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We have seen a significant improvement in reducing the number of MRSA cases in the trust over the last few years.

“The performance of our staff in combating MRSA has at times been unbeatable and this is especially the case at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

“Last year the hospital went 100 days without a case of MRSA, which is a fantastic tribute to staff and visitors.

“However, the trust will not be complacent and will continue to do everything possible to prevent further infections.”

The latest figures mirror the national trend for hospital infections.

Hospitals across England reported a 2 per cent rise in MRSA during the first three months of this year (692 cases), but this was down 29 per cent from last year.

C.dif also rose by 2 per cent across England (8,358 cases) during the first three months, but this was a 36 per cent reduction compared to the same period in 2008.

Health secretary Andy Burnham said the NHS had reached its target for a 30 per cent annual cut in C.dif two years ahead of schedule.

Critics said efforts to wipe out the bugs had reached a plateau and a new drive was needed.