Health board missing superbug target

Cases of one superbug are too high in Ayrshire.

There were 75 incidents of Staphylococcus aureus in the bloodstream between April 1 and November 30. The rate has breached national targets. Thirty- four people contracted the infection in the area’s hospitals while 26 patients picked it up in the community.

Six people injecting drugs also ended up contracting the infection.

Staphylococcus aureus recently contributed to the death of two premature babies in the Princess Royal maternity hospital in Glasgow.

It can cause minor skin infections or it can lead to life- threatening ailments including sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis.

Rates of Clostridium difficile infection are within allowed limits in Ayrshire.

There were 67 cases of Clostridium difficile infection in the first eight months of the year, the NHS Ayrshire & Arran board meeting heard this week.

Director for nurses Hazel Borland told the meeting the board would meet yearend goals for keeping Clostridium difficile levels low.

But she predicted the board would not be able to meet the Staphylococcus aureus target.

Levels of E coli bacteria are also monitored but there are no national targets to comply with.

Ayrshire sees about 400 cases of E coli every year.

A report presented to the board said: “Continual management and monitoring of healthcare- associated infections is driving down infection rates.”

Five wards in Ayr Hospital and one in Ailsa shut in November because of Norovirus outbreaks.

Stations 14, 12, 8, 9 and 16 in Ayr Hospital were hit, affecting 46 patients and 32 staff.

Half of the six outbreaks were confirmed as Norovirus and the other three were suspected to be the same.