The province is providing $20 million for hospitals to fight the C. difficile bacterium that was blamed for more than 200 patient deaths last year.
In addition to those deaths, health officials in Quebec have documented 1,406 reported cases of infection with C. difficile over a three-month period late in 2004.
- GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC - Press release
A total of 88 hospitals took part in the survey between August and November 2004.
Philippe Couillard
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Clostridium difficile |
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A virulent strain of C. difficile was blamed directly or indirectly for more than 200 deaths in 10 hospitals in Montreal and Sherbrooke, Que., in the first six months of last year.
- FROM NOV. 15, 2004 - Minister refutes doctor's C. difficile complaints
Officials note that larger hospitals had a rate of infection twice as high as smaller facilities.
In October 2004, the minister of health announced a provincewide plan to stop the spread of C. difficile.
Philippe Couillard encouraged vigorous hand washing, reducing antibiotic consumption among certain patients, in addition to the survey to pinpoint how the disease is spreading.
- FROM OCT. 26, 2004 - Couillard unveils C. difficile attack plan
- FROM NOV. 02, 2004 - Nurses told staffing won't hurt C. difficile control
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