On August 27th, 2008 a class action lawsuit was launched against Honoré Mercier Hospital in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec on behalf of seventy patients who were infected with a nosocomial strain of C. Difficile.

In most countries there remains a great deal of work to be done in order to attain optimal efficiency in infection control and prevention. This is true of even the most medically advanced countries. Changing collective attitudes in the medical community and taking permanent action against nosocomial infections will have important consequences for the safety of patients and health care workers.

ON May 23^rd, 2008, the French Ministry of Health launched a national hand cleanliness campaign targeting health care workers, patients, and the general public. The campaign emphasizes that proper hand hygiene is the key element in preventing and controlling nosocomial infections.

One of the most basic and effective ways to prevent nosocomial infections is by limiting the use of antibiotics, especially in countries such as France where they are widely consumed. Such measures inhibit the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria strains that render treatment more difficult, costly, and lengthy.