Hospitals winning superbug battle

Cases of potentially lethal superbugs in Stafford and Cannock hospitals have fallen dramatically, according to new figures.

Results for MRSA are on track to be almost halved while instances of Clostridium Difficile, or C Diff, are down by nearly a third.

The figures for Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust's patients were released by the Health Protection Agency and compare 2006 with 2007.

They show the total number of cases of C Diff among over-65s fell from 422 in 2006 to 294 the following year.

The trust has pointed out that some of the samples tested in its laboratories were taken from the wider community but still says it has reduced rates of hospital-based C Diff by almost 33 per cent.

MRSA cases also appear to be on the decline, with 25 recorded between April 2006 and March 2007 and 13 positive results between April and December last year.

The trust, which sees and treats an average of 1,283 patients a week, says the new figures are proof that its two hospitals are continuing to make major strides in controlling infection.

"The infection figures over the last year show an encouraging improvement – but we are by no means complacent and are fully committed to driving them down even further," said Martin Yeates, the trust's chief executive.

Last autumn, the trust launched its "Hands up for the cleanest hospital" campaign and it says more than £600,000 has been invested to help eliminate the spread of infection.

Action included more cleaning staff and equipment, extra staff in the infection prevention and control team, zero tolerance to any failure to follow guidelines and more testing of patients coming into the two hospitals.

The trust has also launched a new policy on the prescription of antibiotics, which can lower patients' resistance to C Diff.