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Three people have died after superbug infection rates soared in dilapidated, over-crowded wards at Arrowe Park Hospital.

A shocking report has linked poor practice in the control of infection, a shortage of time for proper cleaning and run down wards to a sharp rise in deadly Clostridium Difficile Infections (CDIs).

Huge pressures on bed space are also making it difficult for staff to properly isolate infected patients and prevent the spread of the highly contagious bacteria.

C-Difficile infection, which takes hold in the bowels causing diarrhoea and fever, is particularly dangerous to elderly or sick patients and usually occurs in people taking antibotics.

A report presented to the board of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH), which runs Arrowe Park, said CDIs were linked to two deaths in January this year and a third in May.

Outbreaks are ongoing in five wards of the Birkenhead hospital and the trust recorded 78 infections in the 2018/19 period, including 44 found to have been "avoidable."

According to the report testing has revealed the outbreak is linked to a "particularly virulent strain associated with more severe infection."

The rate of CDIs has risen sharply since 2016/17, when 35 cases were recorded, and between April and June this year alone 37 cases emerged.

The report, compiled by WUTH associate director of nursing Jay Turner-Gardner, said: "The hospital-wide outbreak is a consequence of a sub-optimal environment, poor practice in the control of infection, lack of facilities to isolate patients and insufficient priority being given to the control of infection.

"Many wards in Arrowe Park require repair. The nature of the environment and the facilities available means that the control of infection is particularly difficult."

Referring to the fatal cases, the report said: "The first two deaths at Arrowe Park Hospital were around the same time and the investigation team named patient flow and high bed occupancy, which prevented effective environmental cleaning as the main contributory factors.

(Image: Ian Cooper)

"A contaminated environment was named as one of the causes of cross infection during the period of increased incidence of CDI in the Trust at the time."

The rate of CDIs has risen sharply since 2016/17, when 35 cases were recorded.

Referring to the present outbreak, the report said "overwhelming themes" had been identified including:

Failures to isolate the patient in a timely manner

Delays in sample taking

Inconsistent cleaning standards

Cluttered environments

Poor maintenance of the estate, which does not permit effective cleaning

Mr Turner-Gardner said the hospital estate "remained in a poor state of repair" due to "no allocation for Pre Planned Maintenance."

In recent weeks the trust has worked Public Health England, NHS Improvement, Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group and an "independent consultant" to address the issues.

According to Mr Turner-Gardner, "de-cluttering", maintenance including replacement of some equipment, and effective cleaning are the main issues that need to be addressed.

He said a multi-disciplinary task and finish group are meeting weekly to address the problem,.

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, from PHE’s Cheshire and Merseyside Health Protection Team, said: "We are working closely with the hospital to ensure that appropriate infection control measures are in place to prevent any further spread of infection."

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PHE said infection can spread via the hands of people who come into contact with infected patients or with surfaces such as floors, chairs or toilets that are contaminated with the bacteria.

Paul Moore, Acting Chief Nurse at WUTH told the ECHO: "We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of these patients and are extremely sorry for their loss.

“Our Trust has been dealing with an unusually high incidence of Clostridium difficile infections in the past six to eight months and this has been a particularly virulent strain of Clostridium difficile.

“We have stepped up efforts to reduce the risk and prevent infections by focusing on environmental cleaning, handwashing practices, maintenance of clinical areas and antibiotic control. These interventions are having a positive impact.

“To help prevent the spread of infection, we would ask visitors to please use soap and water when entering wards and to also use the hand gels provided.”

Last month, Mr Moore was questioned by councillors at Wirral Council's Adult Social Services Scrutiny Committee about C-Difficile.

He told councillors tackling the infections would be an "uphill struggle" for the hospital, because of the condition of the run down building, many parts of which have mould and old flooring that is difficult to clean.

Mr Moore promised an "all out war on bacteria", with action being taken including an "all out campaign on infection prevention", a review of defects to the building and the redevelopment of two wards as exemplar sites to improve hygiene.