C. difficile Outbreak Persists At HRGH

Outbreak Continues At NRGH

Since the end of March there have been 37 people infected with Clostridium difficile. While it seemed the outbreak was ending there has been a further transmission in one area of the hospital.

The outbreak will not be declared over until there are no further cases for a period of two months.

There have been a total of 10 deaths since the end of March with 5 of those deaths not being caused by C. difficile.

If you are planning on visiting the hospital you can do your part to help put an end to the spread of this and other infections by following the advice given on the VIHA website:

The easiest way to stop the spread of infection is to wash your hands regularly using soap and water. When soap and water is not available, the use of alcohol-based hand rub products can also be used. 

When coming to hospital, you can take these extra steps:

• Wash your hands or use the alcohol-based hand rub product when you come in, and when you leave. There are hand hygiene stations conveniently located throughout all VIHA hospitals and Long Term Care facilities.
• Follow instructions given by staff during admission, and when visiting patients.
• Look for signs posted that identify if other steps need to be taken, such as wearing a gown.
• Only visit the patient you have come to visit.
• Do not use patient/resident bathrooms.

It is also very important that if you are thinking of visiting someone in hospital or in long-term care, but have a bad cough, fever, or are vomiting or have diarrhea, that you stay home.  If there is an urgent reason that you must visit when ill, please notify the staff so that they can provide you with a mask or whatever else is required to decrease the transmission of your illness to others.