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Media Release

March 12, 2009

Trillium Health Centre declares an outbreak of C. difficile at its Mississauga location

As of March 10, after consultation with Peel Public Health, Trillium Health Centre has declared an outbreak of C. difficile at its Mississauga location.

C. difficile rates at Trillium-Mississauga increased in February 2009 to 1.03 per 1000 patient days from 0.54 in January.

C. difficile rates

Aug.
2008

Sept.
2008

Oct.
2008

Nov.
2008

Dec.
2008

Jan.
 2009

Feb.
2009

Trillium Health Centre - Mississauga location

Number of new cases

11

12

11

<10

<10

10

17

Rate per 1000 patient days

0.65

0.69

0.61

0.51

.28

0.54

1.03

The safety of Trillium patients is our highest priority and strict infection control protocols are being followed.

Trillium’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team has been working in collaboration with Peel Public Health to end the outbreak as quickly as possible.

In response to this outbreak, Trillium has issued reminders to staff, physicians and volunteers to follow hand hygiene best practices. Heightened environmental cleaning is being carried out throughout the facility. 

The risk to the community is low, and patients and their families are reminded to follow appropriate and frequent hand hygiene practices when visiting the hospital for tests, procedures, or surgery, or when visiting family or friends. There are no restrictions to transfers and admissions of patients to Trillium. 

For more information on C. difficile, please visit Peel Public Health’s website at: www.peelregion.ca/health/discon/htmfiles/difficile-qa.htm.

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care also has a fact sheet available at: www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/disease/pdf/cdifficile.pdf.

Trillium issues regular public reports on several key performance indicators including C. difficile rates on our website at: www.trilliumhealthcentre.org/quality_safe_care/index.html.

Trillium’s information hotline has information about C. difficile for patients, family and visitors at 905-804-7949.

About Trillium Health Centre

Trillium Health Centre is one of Canada’s largest hospitals with regional tertiary programs in advanced cardiac, vascular, stroke, neurosciences, orthopaedic, and sexual assault and domestic violence services. Housing a model ambulatory care centre and the largest free standing day surgery centre in North America, Trillium serves over one million residents in Peel and West Toronto and from other communities across Ontario. With the continued support of the Trillium Health Centre Foundation, the hospital’s fundraising arm, the two-site facility is attracting international attention for its innovative approach to providing safe, high quality health care services and has received numerous national awards for quality and innovation.

For more information, go to www.trilliumhealthcentre.org.

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Media Contacts:

Larry Roberts
Media Relations Consultant
Trillium Health Centre, at
905.848.7580 ext. 3832
Mobile: 416-358-7201
lroberts@thc.on.ca.