A new ambition in C.difficile prevention across the NHS

This follows the NHS' success in reducing C.difficile infections across the country, with figures dropping by 35 per cent since 2007 – exceeding the national target of 30 per cent by 2010-11.  The new C.difficile objective will challenge the NHS to build on its significant achievement by driving infections down even further.

Over three years, the new C.difficile objective will help to reduce variation and could deliver a further national reduction of around 55 per cent.

The objective will require organisations with the highest rates of infection to make the biggest reductions and challenge the best performers to sustain their low rates and strive for further improvements.

Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, said:

"Five years ago, the NHS was facing a big challenge in bringing down infection. Following a huge concerted effect from people at all levels, I’m proud of the success our NHS has achieved in bringing down the number of C.difficile infections so far. But we want to go even further – patients have a right to clean, safe care wherever they are treated in the NHS and these improvements must continue.

"The C.difficile objective is ambitious but realistic. It will focus improvements on those NHS organisations that need to make the most progress – no individual trust will be required to deliver reductions that a similar organisation has not already achieved."

Janet Davies, Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery for the Royal College of Nursing, said:

"It is the responsibility of everyone involved in patient care to tackle infections such as C.difficile. Nurses have been involved in setting standards for infection prevention and control and will strive to deliver on this objective. The hard work of nurses and healthcare assistants has already made a difference in reducing the spread of infections, and patients should be confident that wherever they receive healthcare, every effort is made to keep them safe."

Graziella Kontkowski, founder of C Diff Support says:

"C.difficile is extremely distressing for patients and their families.

"Working with the Department of Health has enabled me to share patient experiences and help shape the new C.difficile objective. I believe we are now moving in the right direction in combating C.difficile infections and this new objective will hopefully reduce infections even further."

The new objective will come into force from April 2011.  In December 2009, a new MRSA objective to tackle variation and infection rates in underperforming organisations was announced.  This will come into effect from the 1 April 2010.