Published Date: 2007-06-13 21:00:02
Subject: PRO/EDR> Clostridium difficile - Canada (QC)
Archive Number: 20070613.1932

CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE - CANADA (QUEBEC)
***************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: Wed 13 Jun 2007
Source: Montreal (QC) Gazette [edited]
<http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=fca30b78-733f-4e43-a691-c5353b3f16ea&k=47075>

A _Clostridium difficile_ outbreak in a Quebec City hospital has
claimed 8 lives. A total of 52 patients have been infected by the
bacterium in the last 3 months, officials at St. Francois d'Assise
hospital said on Wed 13 Jun 2007. Most of these patients are seniors
averaging 83 years old who suffered various ailments before
contracting _C. difficile_.
An investigation into the outbreak has begun, and a final report will
be completed in June 2007, officials said. The hospital did report an
improvement in the number of new cases of _C. difficile_ in the last
3 weeks, when only 3 patients were diagnosed, and none proved fatal.
This is the 1st time a Quebec City hospital has been hit with this
many _C. difficile_ cases.
Earlier in 2007, the Honore Mercier hospital in Ste. Hyacinthe was
struck with 2 outbreaks of the disease, causing 16 deaths.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
[It is not stated whether the outbreak was due to the ribotype 027
strain, which is the more virulent strain that has caused more severe
disease in North America and Europe (as discussed in the "see also"
section below). The strain has an 18-bp deletion in the _tcdC_
reading frame, which is felt to be a negative regulator of the
production of toxins A and B and may be responsible for the
recognized enhanced toxin production of the strain.
_C. difficile_ control in the health care setting involves not only
aggressive infection control measures but also prudent control of the
overuse of antimicrobial agents. The disease has also been called
"antibiotic-associated colitis" and "pseudomembranous enterocolitis."
- Mod.LL]

See Also

Clostridium difficile - Canada (ON, QC) 20070306.0791
Clostridium difficile, mortality, 2000-2005 - UK (England, Wales) 20070222.0661
Clostridium difficile - UK (Scotland) 20070209.0508
Clostridium difficile, ribotype 027 - Japan: 2005 20070112.0146
2006
----
Clostridium difficile, increased virulence - UK (England) 20061228.3639
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
----
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
----
Clostridium difficile, increased virulence - USA 20041004.2735
Clostridium difficile, fatal - Canada (QC) 20040808.2191
.........................................ll/msp/lm

*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at
<http://www.isid.org/ProMEDMail_Premium.shtml>
************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org
(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,
etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a
human being send mail to: owner-promed@promedmail.org.
############################################################
############################################################