Written answers

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Department of Health and Children

Infectious Diseases

11:00 pm

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will outline in respect of a hospital (details supplied) in County Dublin, the number of persons who died solely as a consequence of contracting C. difficile in 2008; the number of persons who died as a consequence of their condition being complicated by C. difficile in 2008; the action taken by this hospital to address this problem; if the hospital presently poses a serious risk to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25728/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Tackling Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs), including C. difficile continues to be a priority for the Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Up until May 2008, C. difficile was not a notifiable disease and, as a result, it was difficult to quantify the extent of infection in the health care system. Since May 4th 2008, all cases are required to be notified to the relevant Department of Public Health. The number of cases reported nationally from May to December 2008 was 1625 and from January to June 2009 was 946.

Guidelines for the Surveillance, Management and Control of C. difficile- associated disease were published on 22nd May 2008 by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in the HSE. They give national guidance and deal with the isolation of C. difficile ribotype 027 for the first time in Irish Hospitals. They are a valuable resource in assisting in the prevention, management and control of this infectious disease.

The information the Deputy is seeking particularly hospital level data and mortality data is not readily available in the format requested. I have, therefore, requested the HSE to provide this information directly to the Deputy.

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