Suggest abandoning hospital after soldiers defect (5)
I believe the answer is:
taint
'defect' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for taint that I've seen before include "Defect - contamination" , "Evidence of pollution" , "soil" , "It isn't commonly" , "Defile" .)