To ask the Scottish Executive, following the publication of the Health Protection Scotland report, NHS Scotland National HAI Prevalence Survey, in July 2007, what steps have been taken to carry out targeted incidence surveillance for Clostridium difficile, as set out under Objective 6 in page 157 of the report.

Targeted incidence surveillance by NHS Scotland boards of C. difficile in those over 65 years was made mandatory from September 2006, and this approach will be extended to include patients aged 15 years and over from April 2009.