C diff. Cases Rising, MRSA Dropping in the U.K.

Researchers from the United Kingdom Health Protection Agency detailed the incidence of MRSA bloodstream and C diff. infections reported to the agency, comparing data from the last quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2007.

The number of MRSA infections dropped 6.4 percent during this time period; there were 1,542 infections at the end of 2006. This figure dropped to 1,444 in the quarter-long reporting period for 2007. In the yearlong period, there were 7,096 MRSA infections in the previous year (April through March) compared to 6,378 in the current.

The organization commenced an initiative over a year ago to reduce the incidence of MRSA infections. One part of the effort was public reporting on the incidence of these conditions on a quarterly basis. Reporting started this past January. In the past year, the rate of MRSA infections dropped ten percent. The most dramatic drops in rate were in London, where rates had previously been highest.

The Agency also documented features describing the population most likely to develop MRSA infections, according to the data collected. The elderly have a higher level of incidence, particularly those over age sixty. Over three-quarters of the documented MRSA infections occurred in this segment of the population.

Alternatively, the incidence of Clostridium difficile increased, considering reports from those persons over age 65. 15,592 cases were reported in the most recent quarter, up from the 12,797 from the quarter prior. This represents a 22% increase in the rate of C. diff infections between the two reporting periods. However, it is only 2% higher than the same reporting period from 2006.

The report notes that one potential explanation of the significant rise in the C. diff infection rate is a larger proportion of sicker people being admitted to facilities during the most recent reporting period.

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