The number of patients found to have a potentially fatal superbug at a hospital trust is continuing to rise.

Forty-three patients have tested positive for clostridium difficile (c.diff) while staying at hospitals run by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust since April.

The trust had set a target of reporting no more than 34 infections in the 12 months to the end of March.

Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group can fine hospital bosses £60,000 for each new case which passes the 34 maximum.

The means the trust is potentially facing a fine of more than £500,000.

C.diff causes diarrhoea and colitis, an infection of the intestines.

Elderly patients and those in intensive care are more vulnerable to the disease.

The trust has launched an action plan to tackle the issue, which includes continuing to focus on its use of antibiotics and prioritising testing all patients with diarrhoea within 48 hours of admission.