An outbreak of Clostridium difficile (C diff) in Scotland has killed five patients at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee over the last 10 days.

BBC News reports that a total of eight elderly patients have been affected, out of which two died as a direct result of the bug, while C diff contributed to the deaths of a further three patients. All the patients were thought to be on the same geriatric ward – ward 31 – and seven of the patients had developed the more serious 027 strain of the bug.

Infection control doctor for Ninewells Hospital, Dr Gabby Phillips, said that the ward was currently closed to new admissions.

‘We have comprehensive infection monitoring procedures throughout our hospitals and these are able to rapidly identify any emerging trends of infection, which then trigger a rapid response from our infection control teams,’ said Dr Phillips.

‘These cases of C diff infection were detected very early, which meant we were then able to identify the 027 strain rapidly and reinforce all appropriate infection control measures.’

NHS Tayside said that it regularly carried out testing for the bug in order to detect outbreaks in the early stages.

Dr Phillips said the hospital had sought ‘outside guidance’ on its infection control policies and procedures – and had been reassured that the systems in place were ‘robust’.

© 5r1 Limited 2009