Montreal, Calgary hospitals struggle to contain superbug

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Montreal and Calgary hospitals are facing significant outbreaks of Clostridium difficile, a superbug that causes severe gastrointestinal issues and can lead to life-threatening complications. At least 79 deaths in Montreal and 10 in Calgary have been linked to this infection, according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal. However, Dr. Francoise Chagnon from the McGill University Health Centre contests these figures, stating that only 36 deaths occurred among those infected. Health authorities had previously withheld information about the outbreaks to assess the situation's severity. The ongoing struggle to manage this infection highlights the challenges hospitals face in controlling superbug outbreaks.
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MONTREAL - Several hospitals in both Montreal and Calgary are battling long-running outbreaks of a superbug.

Clostridium difficile infections target the colon, producing a toxin that can cause severe diarrhea and fever. It usually infects people after they've taken antibiotics. In serious cases, patients are forced to have their bowels or intestines removed.

At least 79 people in Montreal and 10 in Calgary may have died as a result, the Canadian Medical Association Journal said Friday. The patients in Montreal contracted the infection in 2003 or early 2004.

Dr. Francoise Chagnon, head of professional services at the McGill University Health Centre, disputes the figures. She said 36 died – three per cent of those infected with the bug. SARS killed 44 people in Canada.

Until Friday, health authorities had not informed the public about the hospital outbreaks, saying they wanted to evaluate the severity of the disease first

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/06/04/sci-tech/c_difficile040604
 
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Super bug? the plauge was a super bug. The common cold kills more people than this doesn't it?

[edit] I mean that as a question, not trying to spite you or anything
 

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