Around ten patients have died in Finland from aggressive intestinal ailments over the past few months. The bacterial infection has spread to hundreds of patients in wards at healthcare centres and long-term care facilities. Most of the cases have been in Helsinki, and the Uusimaa area.
According the chief physician the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, Ville Valtonen, infections caused by the bacteria have not been seen in the major hospitals. Those who have come down with the ailment have been elderly patients with several medical conditions. There is, however, concern that the bacteria will spread into larger hospitals.
The outbreak of the bacteria, clostridium difficile, was first observed in early October. Dr. Valtonen told YLE that it would probably have been discovered earlier in hospitals which have more efficiency systems for dealing with infectious agents than do heathcare centres or long-term care facilities.
Clostridium difficile-associated disease occurs when the normal intestinal flora is altered by antibiotics, allowing the bacteria to flourish in the intestinal tract. First step in treatment is normally to end the use of antibiotics.
