C. difficile cases plague Hamilton General Hospital

Health officials at the Hamilton General Hospital are considering declaring an outbreak of C. difficile.

In order to officially classify an outbreak, there must be at least five cases at the hospital. Doctors will declare one later today if they reach that threshold.

C. difficile is a potentially deadly superbug. It causes mild to severe diarrhea and is particularly hard on older patients and people with existing illnesses. That’s why a hospital outbreak is concerning.

Seven years ago, 91 patients died at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington after contracting C. diff.

So far, officials say there are only “a few” reported cases at the General. The hospital is already taking steps to prevent the infection from spreading. Declaring an official outbreak would activate more prevention measures.