You may be unfamiliar with the often fatal infection Clostridium difficile, known as C. diff. This bacterium, which damages the intestines, is more common in hospital patients than federal statistics report. Unfortunately, many of these cases are evidence of hospital negligence in Pennsylvania and across the U.S.

According to an investigation by USA TODAY, C. diff is linked to over 30,000 fatalities per year as evidenced by examining hospital records. Almost 500,000 people in the U.S. may have bouts with this bacterium each year. The deaths per hospital records amount to around twice the number estimated by federal government agencies.

Although incidences of C. diff have been increasing for the past 10 years, health care providers–and medical government agencies–have yet to adopt effective measures to reduce these infections. There may have been tens of thousands of preventable deaths over this decade per the newspaper investigation results.

Tragically, a former infection division head at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that strategies to lower infection rates are not a mystery–they exist. The former division head states, ". . . the barrier is cost."

Incorrect official reporting serves to downplay the severity of C. diff. For example, the CDC reported that the infection spells death for around 14,000 people per year. However, they use death certificate information, which seldom lists the infection when patients die from complications, which is common.

However, hospital records indicate that more than nine percent of C. diff hospitalizations result in fatalities. This is almost five times the rate for other hospital visit reasons. Simple math displays the errors in the CDC report. For example, in 2010, there were 347,000 hospitalizations for C. diff bacteria. This alone accounts for around 30,000 deaths, just in 2010. There are thousands of additional patients treated for C. diff in nursing homes, various clinics and physician offices around the country.

Limited reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid appear to be hindering control of C. diff. Thorough cleaning of patient's rooms and limited use of certain antibiotics in which C. diff thrives appear to be effective strategies in limiting the bacteria. Yet, other countries, e.g., the U.K., have made inroads, reducing infections by over 50 percent since 2008 alone. American hospitals must do more to prevent thousands of these needless deaths. How do you feel about this situation? What is needed?

Source: USA Today, "Far more could be done to stop the deadly bacteria C. diff," Peter Eisler, Aug. 16, 2012

Our Pennsylvania law firm handles medical malpractice cases, including those pertaining to the type discussed in today's post. Please visit our Pittsburgh hospital negligence page to learn more about us.