Sheffield FT behind on C diff target

The board heard there was an “extremely challenging C Diff target of 134 cases [for 2011-12] and to date the trust was behind on trajectory. The trust had already had 57 cases this financial year”.

The chief executive Andrew Cash said it was “a serious matter and stated that there was an absolute commitment to achieving the year end target of 134 cases”, although the target was unlikely to be met by quarter three (December).

Reasons are believed to be environmental contamination, high occupancy rates, antibiotic prescribing and patient case mix. Problems are specifically at the Northern General Hospital site, which the board heard is a “hot site and there was a great pressure on its beds in terms of turnover and that in itself caused problems”.