The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

BY MICHAEL POWER Staff Writer Rates of C. dificile infec- tion at York Region’s three hOSpitals remain well below provincial and national aver- ages, ;fokespeople for the hospi s said this week in the wake of criticism of the province's health minister over reporting of the illness. Mandafing Ontario hos- pitals to report C. dificile cases isagood idea, provided differences between facili- ties don’t skew results, said Danny Chen, an infectious disease specialist at York Cen- tral Hospital. “I think it’s a reasonable thing to do; more informa- tion for patients is better than less," said Dr. Chen. “It does, to a degree, reflect the infec- tion contml practices that are going on (in héspitals) f: ' Héalth and Long-Term Care Minister George Smith- Rates of infection well below average at York hospitals Unlike measles, influenza and some other communicable illnesses, hospitals don’t have to report C. dtflicile to public health ofi'ia'als. IT’S EASY REGISTER TODAY! go ‘to http://pop.yorkregion.com or email us: sclark@yrmg.com or nmoore@yrmg.com 1va met erman announced Tuesday hospitals will have to repqrt all 'ca’seS of the potentially fatal infection by Septao. Unlike measles, influenza and some other communica- ble illnesses, hospitals don’t have to report C. difficile to public health officials. Opposition parties called this week for a public inquiry into the extent of C. difficile ih Ontario's 157 hospitals, a moved Mr. Smitherman ini- tially rebufied. An outbreak of C. diflicile in Quebec in 2003 claimed 2,000 lives and the opposition 260 deaths in Ontario hospitals are attributable to the illness. “The C. difficile outbreak in Ontario has now claimed four times more lives than SAKS," said John Tory, the Progressive Conservative leader. While reporting the con- dition may be a good idea, the province must ensure information collected from hospitals reflects the same conditions, Dr. Chen said. For instance, older facili- ties without single rooms will have a tougher time keeping infection rates down, he said. Such differences between hospitals must be taken into account, he said. In 2005. the rate of C. dif- ficile in hospitals across Can- ada was six cases per 1,000 patients, while the Ontario average was 7.5 cases. York Central’s average has remained below those rates, Dr. Chen said. The hospital reports its rates each month to its board of directors. “It’s a serious health issue and it's something we track on a monthly basis? he Rates of C. diflicile remain low at Markham Stouflville Hospital as well, said the facility's vice-president of clinical programs and chief nurse executive, Janet Robâ€" mmmusmmuooum smmmuvsmcusow mmmmmluvmm. 0% finance late up to 60 months term on selected 2008 vehicles. “Sale price plus freight, PDI, ‘ only on Eclipse and Spydev. See dealer fat more delalls. “‘91 Volume Dealer for 2007 (Ontano) The hospital also has reported its rates to its board but hasn't made the numbers public, she said. Hospital staff question patients on infectious diseas- es from when they are admit- ted to the time they leave. Rates of infectious dis- eases ane then reported to senior stafl and the board of directors. “We’re very happy to say our infection rates are low in this organization and that‘s due to the vigilance of our stafi," Ms Roberts said. POI, admin, etching, locks and all applicable taxes. license and gas extra. OAC ‘Snoo Swm Army gift pack available ...'..-K..,. M029» 12 Southlake has its rates of another infection, known as MRSA, posted on its website and plans to post its C. diffiâ€" ‘cile rates, Ms Boaretto said. Southlake Regional Health Centre provides its rates of C. difficile to those who call asking for the information, said the hospital's manager of infection prevention and control, Brigette Boaretto. . “We’re very transparent with that information," she to them. “They call and we give it In the first quarter of 2008 the lower limit for the rate of C. diflicile in Canadian hos- pitals was 3.4 cases per 1,000 admissions with Southlake’s rate falling well below, at 0.89 cases per 1,000 admissions, she said. Sharing such informaâ€" tion with the public meant patients would be better informed about their health care, Ms Boaretto said. “Why not? If we're going to be transparent with the com- munity I don't think it would be a bad thing to make it part of the mandate for a hospi- tal," she said.