Clostridium difficile Infection
The annual target set by the DoH for 2019/2020 was to have no more than 55 Clostridium difficile
infections (CDI) reported across the Trust's acute hospitals. A total of 72 cases were reported and,
as such, the target was not met.
Facts & Figures
• The CDI target for 2019/2020 was 55; this target was the same as the previous year.
In 2019/2020 the Trust reported 72 hospital cases of CDI.
Review of cases
• None of the infections were linked to transmission within hospital
• There is a high level of compliance with the Trust's first line empirical antibiotic prescribing
guidelines and infection prevention & control related practice when managing patients in
hospital who present with diarrhoea.
• This year the Trust has seen a reduction in CDI cases from the previous year (11 less).
However, we were still over the DoH target (n=55) by 17 cases
• There were no cases of transmission in hospital and no clusters of cases indicated from
the ribotype reports
• Continue to implement the Trust's CDI best practice guidelines and the prompt isolation of
all patients with diarrhoea; the timely application of hand hygiene and the disinfection of
spaces vacated by any patient with diarrhoea
• Continue to promote prudent antimicrobial prescribing through an antimicrobial
improvement plan overseen by the Antimicrobial Stewardship Group.
NEXT STEPS
Goal 3: Measuring the Improvement 63