PC Health Critic Witmer calls for McGuinty to be honest with Ontarians
(Queen’s Park – September 26, 2008) – Ontario Progressive Conservative Health Critic Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo) today said the McGuinty Liberals have not disclosed the full and complete story about C. difficile, because they have refused to call an investigation into the outbreaks and have not released mortality rates for the infection.
Witmer said the information released today indicates that there were 319 new cases of C.difficile in Ontario hospitals in August 2008. According to an infectious disease expert, between two and 30 per cent of individuals who contract the disease will die.
Using the figures released today combined with the known mortality rates for C.difficile, this means that the number of C.difficile deaths that have already occurred or are likely to occur ranges from six to 96 for August 2008.
“The McGuinty government has refused to take swift, decisive and persistent action to reduce these preventable deaths despite having been aware of C. difficile outbreaks since the one in Peterborough in the fall of 2003,” said Witmer. “Public confidence in our public health system demands that the number of C.difficile deaths be disclosed. It’s time for Dalton McGuinty to be honest with Ontarians. They deserve all the answers.”
Unlike the McGuinty Liberal government, reporting on C.difficile in the province of Quebec includes the number of infections per admission, the source of infection, complications caused by the infection and deaths directly related to the infection. Since 2004, there have been over 500 known deaths from C.difficile in just 27 of Ontario’s 157 hospitals.
Witmer cited comments by Dr. Mark Miller, Head of Infection Prevention and Control with Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital who spoke about C.difficile in Ontario, stating that:
“…if they want to know the whole story on C. diff, if they want the whole picture, then they have to count the number of patients dying.”
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For more information:
Catherine Pringle
(416) 325-2202
BACKGROUNDER
C. DIFFICILE TIMELINE
The following is a timeline highlighting key information regarding Ontario’s C. difficile crisis.
November 2002 –
September 2003
A serious outbreak of C. difficile kills 24 patients at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. In May, 2004, the Ministry of Health conducts a study into these deaths.
2003 – 2004
A virulent strain of C. difficile kills as many as 2,000 in Quebec.
June 2004
The Canadian Medical Association advises hospitals and public health communities to prepare for a similar outbreak.
Experts warn that the virulent strain of C. difficile is more harmful than any superbug to strike North American hospitals in a decade
August 2004
Dr. Simor, an infectious disease expert at Sunnybrook Hospital, expresses concern that C. difficile is not reportable.
October 2004
Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious disease expert at Mount Sinai Hospital, says C. difficile should be reportable but warns that the public health structure is not designed to deal with hospital diseases.
March 25, 2005
Dr. Gardham warns that the deadly Quebec strain of c. difficile is confirmed at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Scientists warn that the Quebec strain is 20 times more toxic than any other C. difficile strain.
May 2006
A preliminary report by the Canada Public Health Agency into its national surveillance study on C. difficile is released in London, Ontario. It reveals that Ontario’s mortality rate from C. difficile is more than 3 times higher than the baseline rates set in 1997.
November 2006
Dr. Alison McGeer warns, “…there are patients dying as a consequence of the fact that we’re not moving more quickly.”
May 2007
The coroner investigating 18 c. difficile deaths at Sault Area Hospital confirms one of the deaths is linked to the Quebec strain.
July 2007
Dr. Michael Baker, physician in chief at University Health Network recommends to the Ministry of Health that it bring in mandatory reporting of C. difficile.
May 7, 2008
Under pressure, Minister Smitherman announces that reporting of C. difficile will be mandatory by the end of the year.
May 28, 2008
When the long delay is criticized, Minister Smitherman announces that mandatory reporting of C-difficile will begin September 30th of this year.
June 17, 2008
The Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that Ontario’s C. difficile rates are now higher than those in Quebec, where 2,000 people had previously died.
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