News and Events - Epworth HealthCare

Infection diagnosis at Epworth Richmond

Dr Megan Robertson, Executive Medical Director Epworth Healthcare, reported yesterday that Epworth Richmond has managed three patients diagnosed with the hyper virulent strain of Clostridium difficile since February this year.

She said today that the Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common infection experienced by patients in a health care setting.

“It causes diarrhoea that usually has an onset following a course of antibiotics that have caused other normal protective bacteria in the gut to be overwhelmed. Patients present with diarrhoea associated with an inflamed large bowel.

“The hyper virulent strain is associated with increased infectious spread, increased severity of the symptoms and possible recurrent infection. The infection is widely spread in the UK, Europe and North America, but until now, has not been identified in Australia. Its prevalence in the wider Australian community is unknown due to lack of testing.

In February this year, an Epworth Infectious Diseases specialist sought extraordinary testing - not commonly utilised in Australia - for an elderly patient experiencing more severe symptoms than expected with the common strain of this infection.

While we awaited results for the new tests, the patient’s treatment regime was adjusted to reflect international protocols in handling the hyper-virulent strain and Epworth reported the initial suspicions to the Department of Health.

“Testing for the hyper virulent strain of clostridium difficile infection takes several weeks for results to be confirmed and we sent our tests to a Western Australia pathology service.

“Three patients were confirmed as having the hyper virulent strain and two of these have recovered and been discharged. The other patient is still being treated for an illness not related to this infection.

“More than 20,000 in-patients were admitted to Epworth Richmond since February this year. There is no evidence that the three cases identified are linked.

“Epworth has reviewed all infection control procedures and protocols. We have sought the 2010 guidelines from America in relation to the hyper virulent strain and our current guidelines reflect this.

Should anyone be unwell and suffering with acute, severe diarrhoea following a recent course of antibiotics it is recommended that they contact their doctor. If a person is severely systemically unwell, an infectious diseases specialist should be contacted and hospitalisation considered,” Dr Robertson said.