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| Hospital bug rate at record low | Hospital bug rate at record low |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Rates of infection from Clostridium difficile and MRSA in Scotland have been cut, figures have shown. | Rates of infection from Clostridium difficile and MRSA in Scotland have been cut, figures have shown. |
| Infections of elderly people caused by C. diff have fallen to a record low, according to the quarterly Health Protection Scotland report. | |
| And cases of illness caused by the drug-resistant so-called superbug MRSA have also dropped. | |
| The decreases were welcomed by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, but she warned against complacency. | The decreases were welcomed by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, but she warned against complacency. |
| C. diff rates have fallen 42% compared with the same period last year, while MRSA rates are down 25%. | |
| The latest figures show there were 996 new cases of C. diff in people over 65 between April and June, compared with 1,152 in the previous quarter. | |
| There were also 311 cases in people aged 15-64, but this was the first time statistics for this age group had been collected and officials said the figure should be treated with "caution". | There were also 311 cases in people aged 15-64, but this was the first time statistics for this age group had been collected and officials said the figure should be treated with "caution". |
| 'Good news' | 'Good news' |
| A Scottish government spokeswoman said that within the new age group being monitored for C. diff, the overwhelming majority of cases recorded were in the upper end of the age range. | |
| The equivalent quarter of last year saw 1,732 cases of C. diff in the over 65s. | |
| Meanwhile cases of MRSA fell from 171 in the first quarter to 145 in the second. | Meanwhile cases of MRSA fell from 171 in the first quarter to 145 in the second. |
| Nicola Sturgeon hailed the figures, but warned against complacency | Nicola Sturgeon hailed the figures, but warned against complacency |
| A spokeswoman said MRSA figures have been monitored since the start of 2003, while C. diff has only been centrally monitored since the last quarter of 2006. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "I have made tackling hospital infections a top priority and I am encouraged that today's figures show our strenuous efforts appear to be reaping rewards. | Ms Sturgeon said: "I have made tackling hospital infections a top priority and I am encouraged that today's figures show our strenuous efforts appear to be reaping rewards. |
| "We are confident that we now have the right initiatives in place and the figures back this up. We are seeing significant and sustained reductions in infections which is good news for patients throughout Scotland." | "We are confident that we now have the right initiatives in place and the figures back this up. We are seeing significant and sustained reductions in infections which is good news for patients throughout Scotland." |
| Various efforts have been made to cut infection rates with a national MRSA screening programme, more careful prescribing of antibiotics and reminders for people to wash their hands. | Various efforts have been made to cut infection rates with a national MRSA screening programme, more careful prescribing of antibiotics and reminders for people to wash their hands. |
| Ms Sturgeon added: "However, there is no room for complacency. I want us to continue this excellent progress as we drive to eliminate all avoidable infections from our hospitals." | Ms Sturgeon added: "However, there is no room for complacency. I want us to continue this excellent progress as we drive to eliminate all avoidable infections from our hospitals." |