Infection Threat On Rise at N.J. Hospitals ; Deaths From C. Difficile Have Doubled Since '97

Summary

---

A virulent bacterial infection is striking increasing numbers of hospital patients across the state, sickening 10,000 a year. Since 1997, it has killed more than 400 New Jersey patients.

The infection, called Clostridium difficile, most often strikes older hospital patients who have recently been treated with antibiotics. But scientists say it has begun spreading among people of all ages who have not been hospitalized or used antibiotics. C. difficile, as it is called, causes severe diarrhea and other, potentially life-threatening complications.

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

Infection Threat On Rise at N.J. Hospitals ; Deaths From C. Difficile Have Doubled Since '97

Now, researchers say a new and deadlier mutation has emerged as the disease has become more widespread.

In New Jersey, the number of deaths from the disease among hospital patients has more than doubled since 1997, according to state hospital discharge data analyzed by The Record. In 2003, 106 such hospital deaths were reported.

Twenty-five outbreaks inv...

See the full content of this document

---