Clostridium Difficile

Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish data relating to cases of Clostridium difficile in all those aged two years and over for each NHS trust in England; and for what reasons she does not plan to include such cases of Clostridium difficile in the Clostridium difficile mandatory surveillance system.

Mr. Ivan Lewis
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) publishes data regarding the mandatory surveillance scheme for Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) on its’ website: www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2007/070426_clostridium _mrsa.htm. The scheme began in January 2004 and up until 31 March 2007 all acute NHS trusts had to report all cases of CDAD for patients aged 65 years and over.

Since 1 April 2007 it is mandatory for all acute NHS trusts to report all cases of CDAD in all patients aged two years and over. HPA plan to publish first quarter data (1 April-30 June 2007) on all cases of CDAD in patients aged two years and over, in October 2007.