Four people at Sacre Coeur Hospital in Sorel have died in the past two months following a C. difficile outbreak, said hospital officials.
While officials can't confirm C. difficile was the cause of their deaths, it was certainly a contributing factor, say doctors in the hospital, 85 kilometres northeast of Montreal.
The victims died between late June and late July after the infection broke out on the hospital's geriatric ward.
There are currently 11 more people infected by the illness in the Sorel hospital.
Health officials are overseeing staff at the hospital to ensure safe and clean practices and are advising all visitors to thoroughly wash their hands upon entry and departure.
Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening colon inflammation. The illness most commonly affects the elderly in hospitals or in long-term care facilities and typically occurs after use of antibiotics.
