Three people who contracted C. difficile at a hospital in Sarnia have died.

Bluewater Health has been dealing with the bacteria for a month now.

Vice president of medical affairs, Dr. Mark Taylor, said that "it certainly appears that in two of the deaths, at least, this was a major contributor, if not causal to their death."

Taylor said C. difficile was not the cause of the third death, although the patient had contracted the bacterial infection.

"The people who get this infection are people who are pretty vulnerable at the best of times and they just don't have the robust immune system they need to fight this off," Taylor said.

There are still fewer than five patients in the hospital's medical unit who are fighting the bacteria.

Taylor said hospital staff is doing everything it can to get rid of it, including extra cleaning and wearing protective clothing.

Patients in the medical unit are allowed two designated visitors, who must wear gowns.

The restrictions could be in place until the end of February.