C.diff and MRSA rates at record low

07 January 2010

Rates of both C.diff and MRSA in Scottish hospitals are at their lowest since records began, according to latest reports published today by Health Protection Scotland.

The figures, for July to September 2009, show rates for both MRSA and Clostridium difficile are continuing to fall to record lows.

Key points in today's reports include:

• There were 805 cases of C.diff in over 65s - down 191 on the previous quarter and 628 fewer than the same quarter in 2008
• C.diff rates in over 65s have come down by 43.8 per cent in a year
• There were 101 MRSA cases - down 44 on the previous quarter and 49 fewer than the same quarter last year
• MRSA rates are down 32 per cent compared to the same time a year ago

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said:

"Tackling 'superbugs' like MRSA and C.diff is my top priority because of the suffering they cause patients and their relatives and the way they undermine public confidence in the NHS.

"These sustained falls of both C.diff and MRSA prove that our efforts to tackle these and other infections are reaping rewards and this can only be good news for patients throughout Scotland.

"I congratulate NHS Boards on the hard work that has been done by NHS staff to help bring infections down, but there can be no room for complacency. Maintaining this progress will be challenging but it is essential that we do just that.

"The emerging data for C.diff in under 65s will also allow us to make progress in tackling the infection among younger people where I expect progress will mirror what we have seen in the elderly population."

The full press release is available from the Scottish Government website.