Presents mortality rates and details on the number of deaths involving Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) for England and Wales. National trend data are provided from 1999 to 2006.
Data are also provided for deaths involving C. difficile from 2001-06 by individual communal establishment (for example, hospitals, nursing homes) where the death took place.
C. difficile is a spore forming bacterium found naturally in the gut of a small proportion of the healthy adult population. C. difficile associated disease occurs when normal, healthy intestinal bacteria are subdued by the use of antibiotics. This allows C. difficile to flourish in the gut and produce a toxin that causes diarrhoea.
These National Statistics are produced to high professional standards and released according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.
Office for National Statistics (ONS), Annual, Online edition, Contact: +44 (0)20 7533 5250
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