Clare Daly
Question:973. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of infection with the hospital bug C. diff each week/month in Dublin hospitals. [27038/13]
View answerTuesday, 11 June 2013
Questions (973)
Written answers
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the Health Service Executive (HSE) publishes weekly data on Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection in arrears on its website. New cases of C. diff have been notifiable in Ireland since 4th May 2008. In 2008 some 1,614 cases of C. diff were reported, 1,895 in 2009, 1,692 in 2010 ,1,848 in 2011 and 1,619 in 2012. Figures up to 25th May, 2013 indicate some 708 cases have been reported so far this year.
It should be noted that prior to 2012 only new cases of C. diff were notifiable. Since 1st January, 2012 both new and recurrent cases are notifiable. In addition the surveillance system only covers 85% of all acute public hospital data and this should be taken into account when interpreting trends.
As data on individual hospitals is not available on the HPSC website, I have arranged to have the Deputy's question forwarded to the HSE for attention and a more detailed reply.