CASES of E coli at the Great Western Hospital have doubled compared to the same period last year, marking a two-year-high in infections.

Figures released by Public Health England (PHE) this week showed there were 32 cases of the bug, at the Great Western Hospital during the month of July this year, which is double the number of cases in July last year – and the highest figures in more than two years.

In June of this year, there were 17 cases of the disease, and the highest point in the last 13 months after July was January of this year, when there were 23 cases.

Lisa Hocking, lead nurse for infection control at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have seen an increase in the number of patients coming into hospital with E coli bacteraemia, which is a blood stream infection, however more patients are now also receiving blood tests sooner.

“This is since we began taking blood tests from patients with signs of sepsis, as part of the internationally-recognised Sepsis Six, introduced two years ago.

"These interventions are helping to reduce the likelihood of dying from severe sepsis, with around 80 per cent of patients now surviving, which is significantly better than the national average.

“We adopt strict infection control procedures to help prevent the transmission of E coli and other bacteria which often require antibiotic treatment.”

Ayoola Oyinloye, public health consultant at Swindon Borough Council, said: “Instances of E coli are relatively rare in Swindon and the number of recorded cases at the GWH are likely to represent people from further afield.

"As the numbers affected are low, it only takes a small number of people to create a large percentage increase – even though this may be a statistical blip as opposed to a clear rising trend.

"The majority of reported cases we deal with are attributable to foreign travel, where food hygiene standards may differ, as the infection spreads if people don’t wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet or before handling food.”

For the month of July this year, there were a total of 3,334 across all hospitals in England, an increase of 150 cases on the previous month and 127 more than July 2014.

Professor Alan Johnson, head of the department of healthcare associated infection and antibiotic resistance at PHE, said: “Surveillance data has shown a national increase in E coli bacteraemia and PHE is working with the Department of Health and the NHS to undertake more in-depth surveillance on this infection and increase our understanding of the underlying epidemiology.

“PHE is also working closely with the Government Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection to identify healthcare interventions to reduce this infection.

“Tackling healthcare associated infections is a priority for PHE and across the NHS, and we actively monitor any changes in rates of infections.”