New tests help identify early infection

Warwick has implemented the new national policy to detect it, but because it is more sensitive it identifies more cases at an early stage.

A significant rise in the number of C.diff cases was anticipated – as seen by other hospitals who have changed to the new test – and since April there has been 42 cases, against a target of 43.

It was discussed at last Wednesday’s trust meeting and whilst the annual target will not be increased as a result of the new test, guidance from the Department of Health suggests that this should be taken account of when reviewing hospital performance.

Mr Burley said: “Despite the negative impact this will have on our performance, the most important message is that we are doing the right thing for patients.”

Symptoms of C.diff can include severe diarrhoea, nausea, fever and abdominal pain.

The trust has also changed the screening policy for MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in emergency admissions based on findings that show that mass screening of patients for MRSA is not beneficial.

The trust said when results were analysed it showed that patients identified as having MRSA were in what were described as high-risk categories, which include those admitted from nursing homes and previous MRSA sufferers.

The trust now only screens high-risk emergency patients, but it will continue to screen all planned-admission patients for MRSA.

While the new procedures are “embedded into the organisation”, the director of nursing had requested that all patients in the medical assessment unit are screened to ensure that all high-risk patients are tested.

The trust’s figure for the number of MRSA cases is three, against a target of four cases for the year.

MRSA can live on skin and do no harm until it spreads to an open wound, which can then cause boils, sores, blisters and blood poisoning.