Infection cases drop in Scottish hospitals

Hospitals recorded a slight drop in patients suffering from the infections C.diff, E.coli and MRSA last year.

Reductions in the health care associated infections contributed to a 94 per cent fall in MRSA cases and an 88 per cent reduction in C.diff in elderly patients in the past decade.

There were 1,369 cases of C.diff recorded in patients aged 15 and above in 2017 – 30 fewer than the previous year.

There were 76 cases of MRSA, compared to 88 in 2016, with E.coli cases falling from 4,802 in 2016 to 4,763 last year.

Health secretary Shona Robison said: “Since 2007 we have achieved significant reductions in health care associated infections.

“Cases of MRSA have reduced by 94 per cent and cases of C.diff in patients aged 65 and over have gone down by 88 per cent thanks to, among other factors, the improved use of antibiotics in both hospital and community settings.”

The figures were published on the World Health Organisation global hand hygiene day, with Ms Robison stressing: “Hand hygiene is vital in the health care sector and acts as the first line of defence against the spread of infections and I would encourage everyone working in a healthcare environment to continue to be extremely vigilant.”