Another patient has tested positive for the superbug C Difficile in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth.

The latest case yesterday brought to 11 the number of elderly patients who now have the highly contagious superbug. Another 22 patients also show symptoms of the infection, although they have not yet tested positive.

The outbreak has led to a curtailment of some services but a spokesman said the bug has been confined to only certain areas of the hospital.

The spokesperson said the areas of the hospital under surveillance are on the sixth, third, first and also the ground floors -- but not all rooms or wards on these floors are affected.

"Please note that all confirmed and symptomatic patients are being cared for in single rooms or contained wards.

"As C Diff is highly contagious, it is vital that restrictions and additional infection control procedures are adhered to," the spokesperson said.

She said that a number of steps continue to be taken to tackle the outbreak.

"These include the isolation and cohorting of all patients with diarrhoea and ongoing intensive cleaning of wards. All elective (non-emergency) admissions, including elective scopes are cancelled until further notice."

She said GPs and ambulance services have been requested to refer adult patients with medical complaints to Louth Co Hospital, Dundalk, Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, or the nearest appropriate hospital.

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"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.

"Patients may experience delays in the emergency department and regrettably, due to the number of beds closed to new admissions, we have delays in patients awaiting admission," she added.

Strict restrictions including hygiene protocols are in place at the hospital for visitors.