In 2000, the bacteria C.difficile mutated into a new virulent strain, that causes severe diarrheas, acute pains and several deaths among weaker patients. In Québec alone, between 2002 and 2004, an estimated 2000 patients died from C.difficile and the bacteria has plagued all hospitals ever since. Further more, It has now spread to most senior residences. Treatment costs for C.difficile are very expensive for a hospital, raising the cost up to 16 500$ per partient.
Any new antibiotic or medication is welcome in the fight against this resistant bacteria. However, it should be reminded that prevention and control are the best ways to avoid this infection and to reduce and maintain infection rates to the lowest possible level. Hospitals with C.difficile, or other HAI, stable declining rates demonstrate that prevention works: Le Gardeur hospital in Lanaudière (area close to Montreal), the Sherbrooke CHU, Scarbourough Hospital (Ontario) and others. Prevention costs are rapidly offset by declining treatments costs. Prevention is also the best way to protect patients.
C.difficile, as all other hospital-acquired infections (also called nosocomial infections) are preventable. The title of the December 2010 Conference held in Manchester (UK) clearly shows that British health care officials are headed in the right direction: «MOVING FORWARD FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL PROGRAM - Eliminating ALL avoidable healthcare associated infections: adopting a zero tolerance approach and achieving further improvement, as identified by the new coalition government»
These objective are far ahead the message generaly conveyed here in Québec that only up to 30% of HAI may be avoided!
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