Most stories are linked to the full newspaper article.

FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2010

New device for detecting C. diff
A new device to detect hospital superbug Clostridium difficile (C. diff) cheaply and accurately has been developed by scientists in Bristol. The OdoReader analyses gases emitted from stool samples and can confirm presence of the bacterium C. diff in under an hour. The researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England think that such an inexpensive, effective method of diagnosing C. diff could help limit its spread in hospital settings. In England and Wales there are more than 50,000 cases of C. diff every year which cost the heath service millions of pounds. £1.3 million of funding from the Wellcome Trust will fund a three-year programme of work starting in January 2010. (Telegraph)

WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY 2010

Northern Ireland superbugs fall by up to 40%
The incidence of hospital-acquired infections in Northern Ireland has fallen by up to 40% said NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey speaking at a debate on hospital hygiene on Monday. Clostridium difficile infections had fallen by 40% since mandatory surveillance came into force in 2005, while MRSA rates had fallen by 30% since 2001. The news comes after a damning report on Northern Ireland’s 8 acute hospitals in November 2009 that concluded significant improvements in hygiene needed to be made. (BBC)

MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2010

Genetic mapping of superbugs
Tracking the genetic fingerprint of pathogens using forensic technology could revolutionise infection control in hospitals, according to scientists leading an ambitious new project. The £6 million study involves the Health Protection Agency and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and will sequence the DNA of pathogens such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile. The information could be used to track their spread and identify the source of outbreaks. The results will help health officials decide on how best to manage the spread of infection. A more detailed knowledge DNA of such species could also speed up the development of new diagnostic tests and treatments. (Times)

FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2010

New diagnostic tests for C. diff
The development of a new diagnostic test for Clostridium difficile (C. diff) could help hospitals more successfully stem the spread of infection. C. diff is one of the biggest causes of hospital-acquired infections and is more difficult to eradicate than MRSA, partly due to difficulties in detecting the bacterium. The scientists developing the new tool from the Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry say each test costs about 50p and can give reliable results in about 45 minutes. Current testing for C. diff can take up to four days to provide results. Kits that offer a faster diagnosis are on sale by commercial companies but can cost up to £25 per test. A quicker, cheaper testing method may make it easier to screen patients who do not show symptoms of C. diff infection, which will allow better infection control. (Guardian)