Stringent measures sought to prevent spread of deadly bug

MORE stringent control measures may be needed in hospitals and nursing homes following the emergence of a new “hyper-virulent” strain of the potentially deadly C difficile 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.