SYDNEY, N.S. - Reports on Cape Breton C. difficile outbreak list 49 hospital-acquired cases
The Cape Breton District Health Authority says it first noticed slightly more cases of Clostridium difficile in its hospitals in January, which escalated to an outbreak of the bacteria in March.
In two reports released today, officials say there were 49 cases of hospital-acquired C. difficile diagnosed between Jan. 1 and May 6.
Thirty-two patients were infected at Cape Breton Regional Hospital and 11 patients acquired the bacteria at the Glace Bay Hospital, while the remaining cases were spread among three other hospitals.
The health authority says the peak of the outbreak was between March 20 and April 2, and it was declared over on May 27 after six cases were found in the three-week period leading up to that date.
The health authority says C. difficile contributed either directly or indirectly to several deaths of patients.
The reports don't say how many deaths, but in mid-May the health authority said the antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria had been identified as a contributing factor in five patient deaths.
