As of February 23, 2023, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) in consultation with the CK Public Health, has formally declared CKHA’s Medicine A Unit at the Chatham Site to be in a Clostridium difficile (C.diff) outbreak.
Hospital officials say the outbreak is being declared due to two cases of healthcare acquired C.diff infection on Medicine A.
CK Public Health will work closely with CKHA to manage the outbreak and will continue to work in consultation until the outbreak is declared over.
CKHA’s Medicine B Unit also remains in an active C.diff outbreak since February 6, 2023.
“C.diff is one of the many bacteria that can be found in feces,” CKHA officials said in a media release.
“C.diff infection happens when antibiotics kill the good gut bacteria, which allows C.diff to multiply. When this occurs, the C.diff bacteria produces toxins that damage the gut and can cause diarrhea. C.diff is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitals and nursing homes.”
As part of CKHA’s infection prevention and control guidelines, a number of additional initiatives have been implemented in response to the outbreak on the Medicine A Unit, hospital officials say.
CKHA will continue following these measures until CK Public Health rescinds the outbreak orders.
The safety of staff, physicians, patients, care partners, visitors and the community at large, has and will remain the top priority.
CKHA is reminding the community that the hospital remains a safe place to receive care.
If you are experiencing an emergent acute care need, please do not hesitate to dial 911 or visit your nearest Emergency Department.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
