The Civic campus of the Ottawa Hospital is dealing with five cases of C. difficile in the intensive care unit.
The hospital says they're responding by making staff wear gloves and gowns when dealing with those patients. They've notified health authorities and extra cleaning has been ordered.
"People have died from C. difficile in Canada so we are on high alert all the time," said Virginia Roth, director of infection control at the hospital.
"So far, C. difficile rates have been low at the Ottawa Hospital and we monitor that closely. So when we see a cluster like this . . . in a couple of weeks we put strict stringent control measures in place."
The most recent diagnosis was March 1. Hospital officials say if no other cases are found, they will be able to end precautionary measures April 4.
C. difficile is a form of bacteria that causes diarrhea, fever and nausea. It's one of the most common infections found in hospitals and care facilities. Frequent hand-washing is the best defence.
