Stringent measures sought to prevent spread of deadly bug
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned that recent epidemics of the bug in several European countries — including Ireland — were linked to the new strain of Clostridium difficile.
The outbreaks were “difficult to control”, according to the expert group, but could be kept in line by combining rigorous infection control measures with appropriate use of antibiotics.
That was the conclusion of a group of leading European scientists working on behalf of the ECDC.
While C difficile is not a new microbe, the emergence and spread of hyper-virulent new strains — mostly the so-called PCR ribotype 027 — have contributed to multiple outbreaks in hospitals and care homes in Europe.
These outbreaks have been characterised by patients developing severe diarrhoea, sometimes leading to severe inflammation of the bowel and consequent death.
Control measures encouraged by the ECDC include early diagnosis, surveillance, education of staff, appropriate isolation precautions, hand hygiene, use of protective clothing, environmental cleaning and cleaning of medical equipment, good antibiotic stewardship, and specific measures during outbreaks.
As of June, the new strain had caused outbreaks in Ireland, Britain, Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
The bug was also detected in Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Spain, and Sweden.
According to ECDC director Zsuzsanna Jakab, the report on new infection control measures was prompted by the outbreaks of the new strain.
“ECDC has recognised this emerging new disease and undertaken several actions to inform all EU member states,” she said.
“ECDC is currently financing a pan-European surveillance study to estimate the incidence of hospital and community-acquired C difficile. The results will be available in 2009.”
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