Failure to halt rise of c difficile has deadly consequences - Lamb

1.42.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 25th Jul 2007

Commenting on statistics released today showing a significant rise in cases of Clostridium Difficile, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said:

"The Government's strategy to deal with superbugs has spectacularly failed to halt the rise of Clostridium Difficile, with deadly consequences.

"Hospital staff should treat failure to comply with hygiene standards as a very serious issue, akin to gross misconduct. Disciplinary action may be required to ensure standards are met and lives are saved.

"Older people are at greater risk, yet cases of MRSA and C Difficile in care homes have more than doubled in the last few years, while the Government has focused all its anti-superbug measures on hospitals.

"An urgent investigation into the connection between high levels of antibiotic use and rates of hospital acquired infections is needed, as well as a protocol for using pioneering methods to control superbugs."