In annual figures released by the Health Protection Agency, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is top of the league table of teaching hospitals nationwide with the lowest rates of Clostridium difficile. The trust is also bucking the national trend. With quarterly national figures showing a rise in C diff infections by 6%, the Trust is continuing to report a decrease in numbers - in 2007/8 the Trust reported a fall of 12% in the number of cases of C. difficile

Director of Infection Control and Prevention Dr Peter Jenks said: "We are delighted with the results which are a reflection of the efforts made by everyone within the Trust to reducing rates of infection and controlling the use of antibiotics. The results are testimony to the measures we have put in place and are continuing to develop in the fight against heathcare-acquired infections."

"From April 2007 to March 2008, in total 222 cases of C Diff were identified through the laboratory; during this period over 40% were acquired in the community. This gives Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust a rate of infection of 0.74 per 1000 bed days which is the best rate for any teaching hospital in the country. This underlines the very good track record Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has in preventing and reducing C. difficile."

Paul Roberts, Chief Executive at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The Infection Prevention and Control Team do an excellent job not just in reducing infection but also in encouraging the staff in their role to fight infection, and educating the public to their role in reducing infection in the hospital. The Trust has already had its pro-active work on C. difficile recognised at a national level and today's result is further proof of this. There is, however, no room for complacency - the team will continue their efforts to ensure that rates continue to decline."

Clostridium difficile is considered by many experts to be the most difficult healthcare acquired infection due to its prevalence in the community and the danger it presents to patients. The Trust has introduced a number of new measures to reduce infection rates to the lowest possible level. The measures include:

§ Every serious case of infection is now being referred to the very top: All serious cases of C. difficile are personally reviewed by the Chief Executive and his Team to make sure the organisation understands how that patient became infected and does everything possible to stop similar cases occurring again.

§ Every patient who tests positive for C. difficile is also visited by an infection control specialist, isolated where appropriate and, as C. difficile can survive in the environment, an enhanced cleaning regimen is started. To ensure that cleaning is done thoroughly, it may be necessary to temporarily close the ward to admissions while this takes place.

§ The team has introduced a Balanced Scorecard for the reporting of hospital-acquired infections. This contains infection control data for all wards in one easy-to-use document. It compares infection rates and audit results (for example hand hygiene scores) in different areas. Each month this is reviewed by the Chief Executive and allows efforts to focus in areas where they are needed. The scorecard allows individual areas to see how well they are doing and where they need to improve.

For further information please contact:
Plymouth Hospitals Trust Press and Communications Office, on 0845 155 8207.