Latest figures show MRSA and C difficile continue to fall in London

24 April 2008

The latest quarterly figures for MRSA bloodstream infections in London have shown a 36% decrease in cases during October – December 2007 compared to the same quarter in 2006. The figures also show a drop of 5 % in cases from the previous quarter, from 206 cases during July-September 2007 to 196 in October – December.

Clostridium difficile cases have also fallen in patients aged 65 years and over from 1561 during October – December 2006 to 1172 for the same quarter in 2007 a decrease of 25%. A drop from the previous quarter in 2007 of 18% was also recorded.

It is important to note that C. difficile figures should be interpreted with care at the moment as the surveillance system is currently undergoing significant changes, described in the recent letter from the Chief Medical and Nursing Officers.
Roger Gross, London Regional Director of the Health Protection Agency, said:

“In London, it is encouraging and positive that the figures for C. difficile and MRSA both show a downward trend, but we need to be cautious about interpreting the data for C. difficile. This is because some recent changes have been made to the way in which Trusts are required to report cases of C. difficile and as these figures were collected during the transition period we cannot be confident that the apparent reduction is an accurate reflection of the current situation as the figures for some Trusts may not be complete.”

Notes to editors

Media enquiries to Claire Kennedy 020 7759 2834 claire.kennedy@hpa.org.uk or Emily Collins 0207 759 2824 emily.collins@hpa.org.uk
Information on changes by the Department of Health to the reporting of MRSA bloodstream infections and C. difficile infections through the Health Protection Agency's mandatory surveillance scheme is available at:The Department of Health website

Quarter	Number of MRSA bacteraemia reports
April 2006 – June 2006	320
July 2006 – September 2006	300
October 2006 – December 2006	306
January 2007 – March 2007	282
April 2007 – June 2007	238
July 2007 – September 2007	206
October 2007 – December 2007	196

Quarter	*Number of C. difficile* reports in patients aged 2-64 years**	*Number of C. difficile* reports in patients aged ≥65 years**
January – March 2006	-	2162
April – June 2006	-	1967
July – September 2006	-	1677
October – December 2006	-	1561
January – March 2007	-	1837
April – June 2007	473	1797
July – September 2007	433	1483
October – December 2007	365	1172

Last reviewed: 21 May 2010