SIX patients have contracted the infection clostridium difficile while being treated at Barnsley Hospital since April.
In the first quarter of this year - from April to June - there were six recorded cases of patients contracting the infection, known as 'C Diff' - one more than the quarterly target of five.
Clostridium Difficile is a type of bacterial infection that can affect the digestive system.
Chief nurse Heather McNair said frail and elderly patients are more susceptible, along with those who need strong antibiotics. The infection causes severe diarrhoea.
She said when a patient is diagnosed, they're kept in isolation because the infection is contagious.
Heather said antibiotics were only prescribed when needed and staff and visitors are asked to use sanitising hand gel to try and prevent the infection.
She said target has come down over the last three years.
