Another Rise In C Difficile Deaths 'Shocking And Unnesessary', Says Help The Aged, UK

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Article Date: 01 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Reacting to news that the number of deaths involving clostridium difficile rose by 28 per cent between 2006 and 2007, Kate Jopling, Head of Public Affairs at Help the Aged, says:

"This shocking rise is stacked on top of a huge rise in deaths involving clostridium difficile the previous year - the vast majority of people who die are aged 65 and over(1). It's absolutely outrageous that year on year older people are dying as a result of failure to ensure high levels of hygiene in our hospitals.

"People go into hospital expecting to be looked after and in the hope of getting better - not to run the risk of getting secondary infections or acquiring other illnesses as a result of poor hygiene. Older people are particularly at risk from these types of infections - people aged 80 and over are thousands of times more likely to be affected.

"Through Research into Ageing, Help the Aged is conducting a wealth of medical research into how to improve older people's ability to fight infection".

Notes

ONS Health Statistics Quarterly 2005-2006 figures showed a 72% increase in deaths involving c difficile. Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life. Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

Help The Aged

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