Five dead in hospital superbug outbreak.

FIVE patients have died in a superbug outbreak at a Scots hospital.

Clostridium difficile killed two patients and contributed to the deaths of three others, NHS Tayside revealed.

Eight elderly people in ward 31 at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital were found to have the infection.

A health board spokeswoman said: "Five patients have died over the past 10 weeks.

"Two of these were due to the Clostridium difficile infection and there were three cases where it was a factor but not the main cause."

Dr Gabby Phillips, lead infection-control doctor for Ninewells Hospital, said: "As a precautionary measure, we closed the ward to new admissions while we were managing the infection and the ward remains closed.

"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.

"These cases were detected very early which meant we were then able to identify the 027 strain rapidly and use all the appropriate infection-control measures."

No new cases have been identified in the ward for 10 days, Dr Phillips said.

She added: "We have sought external advice regarding our policies and procedures and we are reassured our surveillance systems are robust."

On Monday, superbug campaigners the C diff Justice Group, led by Michelle Stewart, claimed health chiefs still do not have a grip on hospital infections after the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate told Stirling Royal Infirmary to tighten procedures.

She called on health secretary Nicola Sturgeon to implement in full a 15-point plan drawn up by microbiologists.

CAPTION(S):

INFECTION: Ninewells