A hospital trust is facing fines of thousands of pounds if it does not keep down the number of patients who develop a potentially fatal bug.

Since April, 24 patients have caught clostridium difficile, or C-diff, while staying in hospitals run by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The trust has a target of ensuring no more than 34 patients are infected by the end of March.

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A report to the trust board said the number of cases so far was higher than it had expected at this point and an action plan had been drawn up to tackle the issue.

The trust, which runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath among others, is the busiest in the county.

It faces a £60,000 fine by the Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group for any new cases if it goes past 34.

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

The bacteria multiplies when antibiotics disturb the natural balance of the body.

Elderly patients and those in intensive care tend to be more vulnerable to the disease as they are the ones who are most often on antibiotics.

The trust's action plan includes continuing to focus on the trust's use of antibiotics and prioritising testing all patients with diarrhoea within 48 hours of admission.

The report said concerns had been raised about standards of cleaning, particularly at the Royal Sussex, with persistent problems on some wards.

The infection control team is working with the facilities department and Sodexo, the company contracted by the trust to run its cleaning services, to improve the situation.