The patients are responding well to treatment and none are giving cause for concern as a result of the infection.

All appropriate infection control measures are in place.

Professor Craig Williams, NHSGGC’s Lead Infection Control Doctor, said: "As soon as our C-diff monitoring procedures identified a higher than expected number of cases on the ward immediate action was taken.

“These robust monitoring procedures include statistical process charts which are unique to each and every ward. The charts accurately plot the number of c-diff cases that could be expected in any given month based on type of patient treated and a variety of other factors.

“These charts have allowed us to monitor levels of C-diff very effectively to ensure early action when the number of cases exceeds the background level of cases would normally expect to see.

"C-diff rates across our hospitals have dropped by 50 per cent over recent years and we remain fully committed to reducing this further.”