An outbreak of Clostridium difficile (C.diff) has been declared at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
The outbreak is located on the Medicine B Unit at the Chatham site and was declared after five cases of health-care acquired C.diff were discovered.
According to a CKHA media release, the hospital will work closely with public health to manage the outbreak until it is over.
C.diff is one of the many bacteria found in feces. The illness occurs when antibiotics kill off good gut bacteria, allowing C.diff to multiply. When this happens, the C.diff bacterium produces toxins that damage the gut, causing diarrhea.
The infection is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitals and nursing homes.
Extra measures will be undertaken until the outbreak is over, officials said, but they remind the public the facility remains a safe place to receive care.
