Hamilton hospitals expect to lift C. difficile outbreak status

The C. difficile outbreaks that were declared at two Hamilton hospitals in late July could be lifted by the end of the week.

St. Joseph’s Hospital expects to remove its outbreak status Thursday. Hamilton General expects to do the same Friday.

Both facilities have seen rates of the infection drop significantly.

Twenty-eight days must pass following the announcement of an outbreak before it can be lifted, said Anne Bialachowski, the manager of infection prevention and control for St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The hospital reports that while there are 10 patients with hospital-associated infections at its Charlton campus, only three cases of this kind have emerged in the past month.

“This is well below our normal baseline rate,” Bialachowski said. She expects St. Joe’s will declare the outbreak over by Thursday afternoon.

There have been no recent changes and no new cases of C. difficile at Hamilton General Hospital, said spokesperson Lillian Badzioch. The General’s outbreak could be called off Friday.

“We’re just kind of keeping our fingers crossed,” she said. “We’re hoping for a positive outcome on Friday.”