Incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infection - C. Difficile
Identifying Attributes
Care Settings
Hospital Care
Country
England
Publishing Organisation
National Health Service (NHS): Outcomes Framework
Type of Quality Indicator
Outcome
IOM Quality Dimension
Safety
Setting-Specific Domain
Infection and Sepsis
Defining Attributes
Definition
The number of Clostridium difficile infections reported to Public Health England (PHE), in patients aged two years or older.
Numerator
The number of Clostridium difficile infections reported to Public Health England (PHE), in patients aged two years or older.
Denominator
This is a continuous variable measure. The target population is the total population 2 years or older
Exclusions
Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
None
Stratifications
National and provider level
Collection and Reporting Attributes
Type of Data Collection
Surveys
Data Collection Methods
Counts of the number of C.difficile infections in patients aged two years or older. Published in the annual and quarterly Mandatory Surveillance of Healthcare Associated Infections by Public Health England (PHE). Published around four months after the end of the reporting period.
Frequency of Data Collection
Annually
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
365
Reporting Methods
Reported on NHS website
Reporting Frequency
Annually
Reporting Frequency in Days
365
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No
Source and Reference Attributes
Link to Measurement Tools
Domain
Infection and Sepsis
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
Yes
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
No
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Can the Quality Indicator be Readily Implemented at a Population Level in Australia Given its Current Data Landscape?
Implementation of this quality indicator was not assessed.
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
23 July 2025
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Date Modified 10 June 2026