Concerns have been raised about more outbreaks of the potentially deadly C difficile infection after a recent downward trend halted this year.
A significant outbreak of C diff in NHS Lanarkshire last summer contributed to a national rise of 4% between July and September, compared with the previous quarter.
While Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has advised that the rise is not “statistically significant”, and could be due to random fluctuations, it has advised health workers to be vigilant.
The HPS quarterly report on the surveillance of C diff, said: “Incidence rates are at historically low levels but there have been no significant reductions in the overall Scottish incidence rates observed in the first three quarters of 2011, and the risk of outbreaks remain.
via The Press Association: Warning after rise in C diff cases.