Superbugs: Targets hindering hospital hygiene

5.18.27pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 12th Oct 2007

An alarming report from the Healthcare Commission today found that "significant failings" in infection control at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells trust allowed Clostridium Difficile to spread on wards and ultimately kill patients. The report found 21 people had definitely been died from C-Diff, with 69 more "probable" cases and 1,000 patients affected by the outbreak which occurred during 2004 to 2006. The Commission discovered that managers had placed financial targets - set by the government - ahead of safety protocol. Police in Kent are considering launching criminal proceedings against the trust, which could see them charged for murder, manslaughter or breaches of health and safety legislation.

This report lays out in stark terms the danger of hospital staff chasing targets when they could be concentrating on caring for patients. Recent initiatives from the Government will do nothing to alleviate the conflicting demands on hospital staff's time, which hinder their ability to tackle superbugs. There has to be a zero tolerance approach in all places at risk of infection and best practice should be spread from organisations with the lowest infection rates.