More C. difficile linked deaths

By Dot Kirby
BBC NI health correspondent

C. difficile is largely recognised as a hospital-acquired infection

Four more deaths have been linked to the hospital bug Clostridium difficile in hospitals in the Northern Trust area since last week.

Provisional figures indicate the total number of deaths in this current outbreak is now 42.

Almost a third of these have happened in the last month.

The trust said a weekly snapshot of the number of C. difficile linked deaths was not the most useful way to look at the figures.

But there will be no doubt concern that the rate at which people are dying continues to rise.

The Northern Trust said that it is looking after 19 patients with C. difficile, seven of which are classed as "recovering".