THE NUMBER of patients who have tested positive for the superbug clostridium difficile (C Diff) at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth has risen to 14.
A further 17 patients with symptoms of the hospital-acquired infection have been identified, although none of these cases have been confirmed. All patients in the hospital with diarrhoea are now being screened for the infection.
Two patients who had acquired the superbug died in recent days and the hospital has imposed visiting restrictions among its efforts to contain the outbreak.
The public are asked to telephone the hospital if they want to make essential visits.
All elective surgery at the hospital has been cancelled until further notice, and three wards have also been closed to new admissions in a bid to contain the outbreak.
In order to relieve pressure on the hospital, GP and ambulance services have been requested to refer adult patients with medical complaints to Louth County Hospital Dundalk, Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan or the nearest appropriate hospital in north Dublin.
Adult patients with surgical complaints should be referred to Cavan General Hospital, Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan or the nearest appropriate hospital in north Dublin.
“Members of the public are asked to only attend the emergency departments at the hospital in the case of a genuine emergency and to contact their GP or out-of-hours service in the first instance,” a hospital official said.