Scottish C Diff deaths inquiry back on track
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Scotland has appointed a new chairman of its public inquiry into last year's Clostridium difficile outbreak in the Vale of Leven hospital, to which 18 deaths out of 55 infected patients have been attributed. Lord MacLean, who replaces Lord Coulsfield after standing down for health reasons, will now be consulted on the terms of reference of the inquiry, the government said today. While "rapid and very significant progress" has been made in improving procedures, the inquiry could well serve to underline the value of diagnostic screening and monitoring of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), Clinica suggests. Scotland says it is investing £54m ($90m) over three years in measures to tackle HAIs, including an MRSA screening programme.