Published Date: 2006-12-28 00:00:00
Subject: PRO/EDR> Clostridium difficile, increased virulence - UK (England)
Archive Number: 20061228.3639

CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, INCREASED VIRULENCE - UK (ENGLAND)
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A ProMED-mail post
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Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2006
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: BBC [edited]
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/6214095.stm>

Nigel Chapman, a Nottinghamshire coroner, said the infection due to
_Clostridium difficile_ (C Diff) had been a contributory factor in 12
deaths in Nottingham hospitals in the past month. He said the rise in
cases due to the organism, which may cause severe diarrhea and can
lead to death in the elderly and vulnerable, could become a national problem.
In November 2006, 3 Nottingham wards were closed over C Diff outbreak
fears. Additionally, C Diff was linked to the deaths of 9 patients at
Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre and a further 3 at the City
Hospital in 4 weeks over November and December 2006.
Dr Chapman stressed C Diff was not the ultimate cause of death in the
majority of cases but said he was worried by the rise in case
numbers. "In 2005, I only had 1 or 2 deaths reported where C Diff was
mentioned. In the last month, I have dealt with more than 12 cases.
If I had to hold inquests into all of these cases, I could not deal with it."
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[It is not stated if the organism in question was the hypertoxin
producer 027 strain that has circulated in the UK and in North America as well.
A map of England showing the location of Nottingham can be found at:
<http://www.lightrailnow.org/images/not-uk-map-rev.jpg>. - Mod.LL]

See Also

Clostridium difficile - Canada (QC)(03) 20061110.3234
Clostridium difficile - Canada (QC) 20061029.3100
Clostridium difficile, community acquired - USA (NC) 20061018.2990
Clostridium difficile, ribotype 027 - UK (England) 20061002.2825
Clostridium difficile, ribotype 027 - France, Belgium, Austria 20060915.2617
Clostridium difficile, ribotype 027 - France 20060505.1299
2005
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Clostridium difficile, increased virulence - USA (multistate) 20051202.3472
Clostridium difficile, ribotype 027 - Belgium 20051021.3071
Clostridium difficile, increased virulence - Netherlands 20050706.1912
Clostridium difficile, increased virulence - UK (England) (05) 20050630.1843
Clostridium difficile, increased virulence - UK (England) 20050606.1572
Clostridium difficile, increased virulence, 2004 - USA, Canada 20050412.1055
2004
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Clostridium difficile, increased virulence - USA 20041004.2735
Clostridium difficile, fatal - Canada (QC) 20040808.2191
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