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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 31, 2014 | 4 Hospital moves to contain C. diff infection continued from p.1 "This is a significant increase for us." C. diff (Clostridium Difficile) is a type of bacteria that causes severe diarrhea and other intestinal disease when competing bacteria in the gut flora are wiped out by antibiotics. The bacteria, found in feces, contains spores that invisibly soil the environment. When environmental surfaces are contaminated with the invisible spores, people who touch the surfaces and then touch their mouths or eyes can be infected. Hospital officials stopped short of labelling it an `outbreak,' citing that term is only applied to a situation where a high number of cases is sustained over a longer period of time. The incidence of C. diff infection rates at OTMH have not climbed to double digits since last July when 14 C. diff cases were reported, according to the Health Quality Ontario public reporting website. Since that time, the number of cases reported ranged in the order of five per month. "The health and safety of our patients is very important to us," said John Oliver, HHS president and CEO in a statement to the media. "Over the past several years, HHS has progressively implemented additional infection prevention measures, including an antibiotic stewardship program, to help reduce the risk of infection throughout its three community hospitals. In response to this most recent increase in cases, a number of additional interventions are being implemented at OTMH. This includes enhanced cleaning with Clorox, daily team meetings and increased communication to our community." Good hand hygiene by physicians, staff, volunteers and visitors was also listed as a top priority to prevent C. diff. Rau said this is not the first swell in C. diff cases HHS has dealt with. He noted the similar increase in cases last July was contained. Rau said visits to the hospital are not being restricted because of the situation. He emphasized OTMH is still a safe place to visit, or have medical or surgical care. "There might be a concern that this is transmissible to family members and I think people should be reassured that that is very unlikely," said Rau. "If you are otherwise healthy, and you are not taking antibiotics or these acid-lowering agents for the stomach, you have nothing to fear." New methods for treating C. diff are also being examined. Rau said certain OTMH patients with C. diff have been sent to McMaster University to participate in fecal transplant trials. The treatment involves introducing stool from a healthy donor into an infected patient's bowel, usually through an enema. Proponents say the procedure works because `good bacteria' from the donor's feces kills the `bad bacteria' in C. diff patients. "It's not yet the norm, but it is very topical and I have a feeling that within two or three years, it is something a community hospital such as ours will be doing," said Rau. Dr. Neil Rau "We felt it was important to inform the public of this sudden change in our patient care environment and to reassure them that we are taking proactive measures on a number of fronts to reduce the occurrence of this infection," Oliver said the HHS Infection Prevention and Control Service is working closely with Halton Region Public Health to implement solutions. While the exact cause of the increased infection rate is unclear, Rau looked to contributing factors including: a seasonal and holiday period-related increase in admissions at the hospital; a greater use of antibiotics during the current pneumonia season; a lack of single-patient rooms to care for symptomatic patients; prolonged stays in the emergency room; and a high prevalence of C. diff cases (both hospital and community acquired). "We have always had strict infection control protocols that follow the most current best practice guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee," said Rau. European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass" 905.849.0266 Valentin Dinner e's Day &S Packag how availables e! Polish Hall er Bett & r e Bigg Presenting Sponsor FEBRUARY 14 8 PM M HAMMERSON HALL 2316 Fairview St., Burlington Under the rainbow Crystal Books Tarot cards & more. Tea Cups Free Parking Demo & Lectures Friday: 2pm-10pm Saturday: 11am-10pm Sunday: 11am-7pm HOLISTIC WELLNESS SHOW January 31st February 1st & 2nd Admission $6 with This Ad $5 And Receive (good for all 3 days) Coupon a FREE Gemstone www.esppsychicfair.com