C. difficile Outbreak Declared at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital

October 9, 2026
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) is advising the community that a Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) outbreak has been declared on the North Wing at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital (SMMH) in Bracebridge, following three confirmed cases.

Enhanced infection prevention and control precautions are in place and MAHC's Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team is working closely with Public Health to manage the outbreak and prevent further spread.
   
What is C. difficile?

C. difficile is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea and inflammation of the bowel. It spreads when spores from contaminated hands, surfaces or equipment enter the mouth. These spores can survive in the environment for extended periods, making thorough cleaning and proper hygiene especially important.
What precautions are in place?

MAHC has implemented enhanced infection prevention and control measures on the affected unit, including:
Enhanced Contact Precautions and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Cleaning and disinfection using products effective against C. difficile spores.

Ongoing monitoring and compliance inspections to ensure precautions are being followed.

Patients and visitors to the affected unit are asked to follow all posted precautions and instructions from hospital staff.

The safety of our patients, staff and visitors remains our top priority. MAHC will continue working with Public Health and maintaining enhanced precautions until it is safe to discontinue them.

We thank our patients, families, visitors and healthcare teams for their understanding and cooperation.