NEW technology is helping Ipswich Hospital tackle infections today.The hospital's new mini-Vidas EIA (enzyme immunoassay) machine means patients with clostridium difficille (C.

NEW technology is helping Ipswich Hospital tackle infections today.

The hospital's new mini-Vidas EIA (enzyme immunoassay) machine means patients with clostridium difficille (C.diff) can be diagnosed and treated quicker.

The investment is the hospital's latest effort to tackle bugs after problems in the past with infection control and being handed a notice to improve from the Healthcare Commission over hygiene standards in February.

Previously C.diff testing was done on six days a week and it took 48 hours to get results. If a sample was taken on a Friday evening, when there was no testing on the Saturday, the result would not have been back until Tuesday - four days later.

Now, testing is seven days a week and results are turned around in a maximum of 24 hours.

All inpatients who have diarrhoea are tested for C.diff.

Lesley Taylor, infection control nurse specialist, said: "This new equipment enables us to place patients more appropriately, so they are in the right place and on the right treatment quicker - usually in about half the time.

“As we can isolate the individuals sooner, it will also help us in reducing transmission."

Does more need to be done to tackle infection control at Ipswich Hospital? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.