Hospital-borne C. difficile bacteria caused 10 of 26 deaths at a Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., hospital between April and November 2006, the region's deputy chief coroner said Wednesday.

An initial investigation into the deaths at Sault Area Hospital has concluded, said coroner Dr. Bonita Porter, who chaired the C. difficile expert review committee.

C. difficile contributed to another eight of the deaths, but were not a factor in the deaths of the remaining eight patients out of the total of 26, according to the review of medical charts and information gathered from autopsies.

"We have communicated the results of our investigation to the Sault Area Hospital and to the families of the deceased," Porter said.

"We will continue to work with the hospital to determine if there are lessons to be learned that may be shared with others in order to reduce such occurrences not only in Sault Ste. Marie, but across the province."

C. difficile causes swelling of the intestines and diarrhea as well as fever and vomiting.

Experts have been trying to gain control over C. difficile cases at the Sault Area Hospital, where infections have been reduced.

Overcrowding remains an obstacle to infection control, the hospital's chief of staff said.

In an average year, the hospital has between 15 and 25 cases.

With files from the Canadian Press