May 13, 2009

NHSG/64/09

Infection control measures rolled out in Elgin hospital

Dr Gray's hospital in Elgin is not currently admitting new patients to two wards following a higher than usual number of patients suffering from gastrointestinal illness.  Six patients have Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) infection.  Symptoms in some other patients suggest a viral infection, possibly norovirus.  None of these patients are giving cause for concern.

An outbreak control team has been set up as part of the infection control response.  The measures include deep cleaning of the wards with specialist laboratory and site analysis taking place, supported by NHS Grampian's infection control team.

Andrew Fowlie, General Manager of Moray Community Health and Social Care Partnership said, "We regret any inconvenience caused to patients and their families, but infection control and patient safety are our number one priority.

"We are working very hard to minimise the risk of spread of infection and have decided to take the short term step of not admitting medical patients and some surgical patients to allow us to focus on this.  We continue to review the situation on an ongoing basis and will ensure that the hospital is fully up and running again as soon as possible.

"The hospital remains operational, but we are not admitting patients to these two wards."

Regrettably a frail elderly patient with C.difficile and other acute illnesses has died.    

The outbreak team will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis, until such times as the wards are 48 hours symptom free.

Levels of C.difficile can fluctuate and tend to focus on older people or those with other acute illnesses.  Increased vigilance and screening in hospitals is resulting in more cases being identified. 

Standard treatment for patients diagnosed with C.difficile is a course of antibiotics 10-14 days.  The patient would be nursed to reduce the risk of further infection. Antibiotics are continued until the patient remains 48 hours free of diarrhoea before being declared 'all clear'. 

Patients, relatives and the public are reminded that they should regularly wash their hands with soap and warm water to minimise the risk of catching and spreading this infection. 

Patients and families have been fully briefed by hospital staff. In the short term patients who would have been admitted to Dr Gray's will be cared for in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary or in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Notes to editors

1. Clostridium Difficile (C.difficile) is a bacterium that causes diarrhoea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis.  It is found in around one in fifty healthy adults who carry the bug without showing any symptoms.  People who have other illnesses or conditions requiring prolonged use of antibiotics and the elderly are more likely to show symptoms.
   
   
2. Norovirus, also known as 'winter vomiting disease,' is a common cause of viral gastrointestinal illness which can occur at any time of year.  It can easily spread between people either through food or the environment.  As always, anyone suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea should be very careful with their hand hygiene and should not attend work, school or public gatherings until 48 hours after their symptoms have settled.
   
   
3. NHS Grampian's infection control team now consists of eight full time infection control nurses, two surveillance nurses, two antibiotic pharmacists and a prescribing data analyst who keeps medical staff up to date with the latest antimicrobial developments.

Corporate Communications
NHS Grampian