TORONTO - Hospital unions staged a mock room-cleaning outside the provincial legislature Friday as part of a campaign against hospital-acquired infections.

Ontario Council of Hospital Unions president Michael Hurley says the government needs to be more proactive if it wants to stop the spread of infections like C. difficile.

The bacteria has been linked to at least 23 deaths since May, but the government says an outbreak that had involved 10 hospitals is easing.

Health Minister Deb Matthews took part in a demonstration of her own Thursday, participating in a hand-washing exercise to highlight its importance in combating the bug.

She also says the province is building and renovating hospitals to make sure they meet the standards for infection control.

But Hurley says that isn't enough to deal with the 4,000 people who die every year after contracting hospital-related infections.