Three patients have died as a direct result of the C-diff superbug at Eastbourne District General Hospital, it was revealed today.

The patients, who were aged 85, 89 and 91, died on February 11, February 28 and March 17.

Meanwhile the clostridium difficile bug has contributed to the deaths of another ten people at the hospital.

Another nine people have contracted the bug in the hospital, although they had overcome the condition before their deaths.

All those who have died were described as "elderly" people who had been suffering from respiratory problems.

The deaths were uncovered at a press briefing at the hospital this morning.

There are currently 17 patients being treated for C-diff at the DGH.

There have been 62 cases of C-diff at the DGH since January 1.

The hospital has been battling to contain the problem, which has led to ward closures and the opening of a special isolation ward called East Dean ward.

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust has spent about £100,000 on a hydrogen peroxide vaporisation system in a bid to tackle the bug.

More staff have been taken on, specifically to work in the isolation ward, and chief executive Kim Hodgson has even volunteered to carry out nursing shifts.

Dr Barry Phillips, director of infection prevention and control at the Trust, told The Argus: "We have never had an outbreak on this scale before and never had to create an isolation ward."

The Strategic Health Authority says that hospitals the size of the DGH should expect about 200 cases of C-diff a year.

There have been 194 so far this financial year at the DGH.

A solicitor representing a number of the families of the 13 people who died of C-diff at Eastbourne District General Hospital said the case had 'striking similarities' to a similar outbreak which killed 90 patients cared for by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Sarah Harman, of solicitors Harman & Harman, which specialises in medical negligence, said that the hospital had failed in its duty of care.

Ms Harman said comparisons could be drawn between the Eastbourne hospital and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust which came under fire in October 2007 after a report revealed 90 of its hospital patients had died from the disease.

Ms Harman, the sister of Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Harriet Harman, said: "We have been instructed on behalf of some of the families.

"Having dealt with the Maidstone case we are seeing a lot of similarities.

"Elderly people, sometimes in very good health, possibly with just a fracture or a medical problem which is not life-threatening end up dying of C-diff.

"This case is very similar to the one at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

"It's very disappointing that we don't provide better care to the elderly."

Eastbourne's Conservative MP Nigel Waterson, the shadow minister for older people, said today: "This has come as a great shock and I am hugely concerned about it.

"Obviously we have to be in a position where all my constituents, particularly those who are elderly and frail, can go into hospital confident they are not going to pick up a life-threatening infection."

Mr Waterson added: "I have spoken to the chief executive of the hospitals trust and I am keen to ensure they are getting as much help from outside as possible - that is from the Department of Health and the Health Protection Agency - to try and bring this outbreak under control.

"It sounds like they haven't got on top of the outbreak yet. I understand the Health Protection Agency are there today.

"I am available to any of the families who have been affected if they need any help."

Last week, patients had to be diverted to hospitals many miles away for operations while cleaning work was carried out.

C-diff is the major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis, an infection of the intestines.

The bacterium, which lives in the gut, multiplies when doses of antibiotics disturb the natural balance of germs in the body, causing severe complications for elderly people and those already suffering a serious illness.

The increase in cases is thought to be due to the high number of patients admitted with respiratory infections.

They are given antibiotics which increases their susceptibility to the infection.

Do you know someone who has been affected by the C-diff bug at Eastbourne District General Hospital? Call the newsdesk on 01273 544512 or leave your comments below.