A ward at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth has been closed to new admissions and visiting is being limited following an outbreak of Clostridioides difficile, a contagious bacterium that causes diarrhoea.
Dyfi Ward at the hospital is affected, with patients confirmed to have the infection being isolated within the facility. Hywel Dda University Health Board, which manages hospitals in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, is asking people not to visit Bronglais if they are feeling unwell.
What is Clostridioides difficile?
Clostridioides difficile is a bacterium that causes bowel inflammation and severe diarrhoea. Symptoms include watery diarrhoea, often three or more times a day, abdominal pain and cramping, a high temperature, nausea and a loss of appetite.
According to the NHS, the bacterium spreads easily from person to person through microscopic spores found in stool.
Restrictions and response
A spokesperson for Hywel Dda said: “Visiting to Bronglais Hospital’s Dyfi Ward is being restricted from today (Wednesday, October 21), due to an outbreak of Clostridioides difficile (also known as C. difficile or C.diff).
“The ward is closed to new admissions and visiting is being limited. Affected patients are being isolated and the closure will allow for review and cleaning arrangements to be carried out.
“People are reminded not to visit patients in hospital if they are feeling unwell. This is to limit the spread of infection and to keep our patients as safe and well as possible.”
