C difficile death toll in Scotland revealed
Wednesday 12th August 2009
The total number of deaths resulting from hospital superbug Clostridium difficile (C difficile) in Scotland last year has been revealed.
New figures released by the country's government showed that 248 people lost their lives as a result of the bug over the 12-month period.
However, the death rate fell over the course of the year, with 75 being recorded during the first three months, compared with 42 in the final quarter.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon commented: "Tackling so-called superbugs like C.diff and MRSA is a huge challenge but it's vital we make progress to ensure people have confidence in the quality of care they receive."
She added that it is "encouraging" that the number of deaths fell throughout the 12-month period, suggesting that the figures provide "cautious grounds for optimism".
A bacterium that is present in the gut of around three per cent of adults, C difficile does not cause problems in healthy people.
Written by James Puckle
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