Major spikes in hospital-acquired covid infections at two trusts

Official data suggests The Royal Wolverhampton Trust had a weekly average of 25 probable hospital-acquired covid infections in mid-August, which was more than half the highest weekly average it reached in the peak of the covid wave in January.

This is despite the trust’s overall covid occupancy equating to just 15 per cent of that in January. Higher covid occupancy levels tend to lead to higher rates of hospital-acquired covid infections.

The trust had 73 covid-positive patients in mid-August, so around a third of those were likely to have caught the virus in hospital.

There was also a spike in probable hospital-acquired covid cases at Yeovil District Hospital Foundation Trust at the start of August, when its weekly average reached similar levels to those reported in January, despite overall covid occupancy being just 50 per cent of its January levels.

In the first week of August, 46 per cent of the trust’s covid-positive patients appeared to have caught the virus in hospital.

According to NHS England and international definitions, covid infections diagnosed eight days or more after admission are likely to have been acquired in hospital. The numbers of these “nosocomial” infections have been rising again nationally, as overall covid occupancy has risen.

In the latest data, around 5 per cent of all hospital covid cases were probably acquired in hospital, compared to 25 per cent in January.

Infection Prevention Society president Jennie Wilson said the rising numbers are reflective of the “relentless pressure” staff are under, overcrowding and demand for hospital care, and the increased transmissibility of the delta variant.

She added: “Infection prevention and control teams are totally aware it’s a problem and they strive to do their best to keep it under control. It’s hugely challenging but [staff] are doing their best.”

A Royal Wolverhampton spokeswoman urged people to get vaccinated amid rising infection rates in the community, adding: “Our staff continue to work tirelessly to protect patients and colleagues by rigorously following Public Health England infection prevention and control.”

Yeovil District Hospital FT said community transmission in Somerset has been higher than average and it is working hard to stop the virus being brought into hospital.

A spokesman added: “We have managed a small number of outbreaks within the past four weeks, using our limited bed base carefully to cohort positive patients, and reinforcing hot and cold pathways to protect both patients and staff. Almost all patients affected by these outbreaks have now been discharged.”

He said stringent infection prevention control measures have remained in place, with “excellent compliance from staff and the public”.