An outbreak of C. difficile bacteria at Hanover and District Hospital is contained, but the all clear has not been given yet.
Four of ten patients who contracted the bacteria since November have died — although none of the deaths has been directly attributed to the disease.
Susan Shular is the Manager of the Infectious Disease Program at the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
She says you can call it a contributing factor but the patients usually succumb to other health issues like pneumonia.
There was one case in November, five cases reported in December and four so far in January.
Shular says no new cases have been found for several days, but hospitals are not declared C. difficile free until they have gone 30 days with no new cases being confirmed.
Hanover hospital staff meet daily to review attempts to control the disease.
Special emphasis is put on hand washing and cleaning a patients room twice daily.
C. difficile is a common bacteria which can result in a patient suffering from diarrhea and dehydration.