Hospital bug involved in 77 patient deaths in North
The hospital bug Clostridium difficile (C. Diff) was involved in the deaths of at least 77 people last year, according to officials figures released by the Stormont Executive today.
The death toll represents a rise of more than 20% on 2006.
The figures were compiled after one hospital trust in the North reported 24 deaths as a result of a C. Diff outbreak that began claiming lives last July.
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey is promising to do everything to tackle the spread of hospital-acquired infections, but he says disease like C. Diff and MRSA will never be eradicated entirely.
