More C. difficile cases in Guelph
Posted Aug 7, 2011 09:00:03 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Another case of hospital-acquired C. difficile was reported by Guelph General Hospital on Friday, and the hospital also admitted two more patients in the week who had acquired it in the community.
“This means we’ll be at least a few weeks before the outbreak status can be lifted,” hospital spokesperson Perry Hagerman said.
Guelph General has been under outbreak status since May 4 — one of several hospitals in southern Ontario who are having difficulty ridding themselves of the contagious spores.
There have been a total of 18 hospital-acquired cases since May and six deaths of patients who acquired the disease while in hospital for other reasons. C. difficile is not the cause of death, but may have been a contributing factor.
Guelph General has stepped up cleaning and staff now man entrances to advise visitors on good hand washing hygiene. Hagerman said the threat is as much about visitors bringing it into the hospital as becoming infected themselves.
C. diff is spread by contact on surfaces.
