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C difficile infections rise—but MRSA rates drop

BMJ 2007; 334 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39199.446331.DB (Published 3 May 2007)
Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:924.1

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  1. Michael Day
  1. London

    The number of infections of Clostridium difficile in the NHS in England rose again last year. Hospitals saw 55 681 cases among patients aged over 65 years—up 8% on the 2005 figure, says the Health Protection Agency.

    The latest figures come two months after it was revealed that C difficile and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) had killed record numbers of patients in 2005. In that year C difficile was mentioned on 3807 death certificates—up 69% on the 2004 figure, the Office for National Statistics said. MRSA was a factor in 1629 deaths, a rise of 39%.

    The Health Protection Agency noted that the latest increase in the number of C difficile cases …

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