C. difficile outbreak at GRH
Posted Dec 2, 2011 01:33:44 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There’s an outbreak of C. difficile in one unit at Freeport Hospital.
Hospital staff are taking steps to protect patients while working to stop further spread of the disease.
Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. William Ciccotelli told 570 News five new cases total have been recorded in the past three weeks, three of those in the Union Terrace Four unit.
Vulnerability to C. difficile isn’t limited to the elderly, Ciccotelli said, “a lot of patients who have chronic health problems or maybe antibiotic exposures are people who can actually aquire this disease, but certainly the elderly are a group that we are concerned about getting this infection.”
Ciccotelli says they’re agressively looking for cases that are symptomatic of C. difficile, putting those patients in isolation as soon as possible, and getting them tested and on treatment.
The hospital is also ramping up cleaning of the facility in the areas that are infected in hopes of breaking the cycle of transmission.
While there has not been visitor ban, Ciccotelli said if you are visiting the unit the outbreak is on to consider holding off. Ciccotelli says if you have to visit, “please help us by washing and sanitizing your hands regularly before, during and after your visit. Hand hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of many infections,” he said.
