OT - 5 confirmed cases of the superbug at the Civic Hospital Ottawa

I heard it on the news this morning.  Hope it doesn't affect surgeries and appointments.

ya I hope not :O

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't that 'super-bug' primarily affect the old and people with compromised immune systems? I'm not in the health care field but this was my understanding.

I heard it as well, but if I'm not mistaken at this point it is isolated to ICU.

Here is the news story, for more info.
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110331/OTT_h ospital_difficile_110331/20110331/?hub=OttawaHome

C. difficile is omnipresent in North American hospitals, and can kill, especially immunocompromised and frail patients.

We should however bear in mind that - yes, you're right - at the moment the mini-outbreak is limited to the Intensive Care unit.
That really sucks for those patients, but it does help the rest of you, as it can be isolated.
Secondly, Ottawa Civic was just cited in the press this last month for a VRE outbreak in addition - this is also an enteric infection, and is also spread by inadequate handwashing and infection control procedures, just like C. diff..

Those of you going into this hospital in the near future (or any hospital for that matter!) should take extra hand sanitizer with you and use it. Do not touch objects (meal trays, handrails in washrooms, door handles) that others have touched unless you have seen it being cleaned. Use a paper towel to touch those objects.  Wash your hands and surfaces like sinks etc whenever you get a chance.

Take care of yourselves - you can't rely on the hospital to do it. They're too strapped for personnel and cash to take care of each person individually. They're not being lax - they're just underfunded and overworked.

Good points - thanks for the tips. I will take the safety measures.

yea.. underfunded - overworked.. and what do they say on the radio.... a hockey player or baseball star gets how much?? to do what?? and nurses get?? and do what???  sheeeesh!!!!

St. Joe's also had a c.difficile outbreak earlier this year, while i was having my surgery.  I wasn't worried about the outbreak as someone already said, it affects mostly the elderly who have pre-existing conditions.  It did however affect bariatric surgeries, as we were told to expect delays right up until the time we were admitted, because there was a huge bed shortage so they could isolate the cases they had.  Luckily I wasn't one of the patients who had to delay their surgery

Long story short:

St. Joe's was in the midst of a MAJOR c. diff. outbreak (22 + with a few of deaths) when I was in for surgery (November 2010).  The room beside mine (as the bariatric patients are on the GI floor) was an isolation room with a c. diff. patient in it.

The head nurse on the floor handed every patient a pump bottle of hand sanitizer and reminded them to use it  as well as remind the staff to use it.

If you're going for surgery, ask for your own personal hand sanitizer pump and use it every time you enter or exit the room.  When a doctor or nurse comes to work on you, DEMAND they use it in front of you and even pump it into their hands if you want to be assured they are doing it.

Remember, you have to advocate for yourself and your health.

Thanks Myke!  My surgery won't be for a while yet.  Hopefully all is back to normal by then.