PATIENTS at a North-East hospital trust have helped to confirm that a specialised antiobiotic is highly effective in treating and controlling the spread of a hospital superbug.

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust was one of seven UK hospitals to take part in a study designed to evaluate an antibiotic known as fidaxomicin.

More than 1,450 patients were included in the study.

It demonstrated that the first-line use of fidaxomicin in Clostridium Difficile (CDI) patients significantly reduces death and recurrence rates compared to using it in selected patients only.

Dr Simon Godenberg, consultant microbiologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said the study demonstrated the role fidaxomicin may play in reducing the spread and incidence of CDI alongside stringent hospital hygiene protocols.

Currently the guidance from Public Health England is that fidaxomicin should only be prescribed as a first-use treatment for severe cases of CDI in patients at a high risk of recurrence.

A spokesman for the County Durham and Darlington Trust said: “Although our figures on their own are relatively small, the value of a study across several organisations is that it gives a clearer picture about the effectiveness of different approaches.

“We have been prescribing fidaxomicin since November 2012, based on an assessment by a microbiologist, antibiotic pharmacist, gastroenterologist and dietitian to ensure it is the right approach for each patient.

“The trust was the best performing NHS organisation in the North-East in 2014/15 for tackling CDI, and one of the top performing trusts in the country.

“Appropriate use of antibiotics is becoming ever more important with the increase of drug resistance."

Results of the survey were presented at an international symposium in Slovenia.