Deaths involving 'superbugs' rise by up to 70% in one year
Deaths involving hospital superbugs MRSA and Clostridium difficile have risen sharply, according to figures published today.
Between 2004 and 2005, mention of MRSA on death certificates rose by 39 per cent while mention of Clostridium difficile rose 69 per cent, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
More here...
• The £30 MRSA zapper that will fit in your pocket
• British scientists find 'superbug cure'
This differs from figures from the Health Protection Agency's MRSA surveillance unit, which showed a small decline in the superbug over the same period.
However, ONS figures showed the number of death certificates in England and Wales mentioning MRSA has almost doubled between 2001 to 2005, from 1,211 to 2,083.
Health minister Lord Hunt said: "We are now getting a far more accurate picture of the number of deaths from C Diff (Clostridium difficile) and MRSA with vastly improved recording.
"We have set very tough targets for trusts to reduce infections and put a hygiene code and a tougher inspection regime into law, to drive up standards of hygiene and infection control.
"We have also provided £50 million funding which will give a cash injection to trusts to boost infection control measures.
Levin Wheller, from the ONS, said cases and deaths from MRSA had increased dramatically since the 1990s.
The number of death certificates in England and Wales mentioning MRSA rose from 61 per cent in 2001 to 78 per cent in 2005, ONS figures showed.
The number of death certificates in England and Wales which mentioned C. difficile increased from 1,214 in 2001 to 3,807 in 2005.
The death rate involving C. difficile among men in England and Wales almost trebled between 2001 and 2005, from 13.1 to 37.6 per million population, the ONS said.
Among females, rates more than trebled, from 12.8 per million to 38.9 per million.
The ONS also pointed out that improved reporting of superbugs on death certificates could also contribute to the rises, although it was impossible to say by how much.
