Cdifficile is the superbug that is often in the the shadow of the more high profile MRSA, which grabs most of the headlines.

But new figures show around 40 cases of C difficile a week are reported here. It became notifiable in May 2008 and there were 3,538 cases reported to the end of last year.

C difficile can lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea and fever and is usually caused by antibiotics.

The risk of an outbreak can be reduced dramatically by good infection-control practices but it is extremely contagious and is spread very easily, hence the strict restrictions hospitals have to put in place when it is found in patients.

Most people make a full recovery but in a minority of cases the infection can be fatal.

Cases were last year more prominent in female patients (57.6pc) and older age groups with a mean age of 71 years, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

The 75-84 year age group had the highest number of cases affecting 615 last year, the statistics reveal.

"The majority of cases were notified by hospitals. Patients classified as hospital in-patient had the highest occurrence, accounting for 62.9pc of all cases notified," it said.

Of the remaining, 7.8pc were classified as patients of family doctors, 2.8pc were hospital out-patients and the rest was a mix.

It pointed out that the real number of cases is higher because the current surveillance does not capture recurrent infection.

It is estimated that C difficile recurs after treatment in 20-30pc of cases.

When a patient has the infection the advice is to stop taking the antibiotics which caused it if possible. This is aimed at allowing natural 'good' bacteria to re-grow in the gut and if the infection is mild to moderate this may be enough.

For those suffering a more severe infection however, it is necessary to take another antibiotic to kill off the C difficile. In rare and serious cases, surgery may be needed to repair damage to the intestines, especially if there are tears in the small intestine.

People most vulnerable to a C difficile are those who:

• Have been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• Have had to stay for a long time in a hospital or nursing home.
• Are over 65 years old.
• Have a serious underlying illness or condition.
• Have a weakened immune system.
• Have had numerous enemas or gut surgery.

Whenever possible, people who are infected with C difficile will have their own room and own toilet facilities to avoid passing the infection on to others.

Staff, patients and visitors should be encouraged to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly. Thorough cleaning using water and soap is an effective way of removing any spores that have transferred onto a person's skin or clothes.

- Eilish O'Regan

Irish Independent