All planned orthopaedic surgery at a Glasgow hospital has been suspended after six patients who were operated on became infected with a number of bugs.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the decision was taken after the number of wound infections at the Southern General Hospital had increased.
Emergency orthopaedic operations will continue within the hospital.
The health board said a number of different types of bacteria were causing the infections.
A spokeswoman said patients set to undergo surgery were being informed that their operations were being rescheduled.
She added that the health board was unable to say what the bugs were, or how many people would be affected.
Recent outbreaks
A statement described the measure as a precaution taken by both orthopaedic surgeons and the health board's infection control team.
"We have apologised to those patients affected for any inconvenience, but must stress that patient safety remains the over-riding consideration," the statement said.
The infections are the latest in a number of outbreaks in Greater Glasgow and Clyde which have affected wards.
Last month, cases of MRSA superbug infection were reported at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and the Southern General.
Just weeks earlier, the Clostridium Difficile (C Diff) bug infected six patients at Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary.
In September, the Southern General was affected again when 24 patients were infected by a bug.
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