Health Managers Pleased As Superbug Cases Drop ; Cases of the MRSA Superbug in South West Hospitals Have Fallen By 39 Per Cent, According to a Recent Study.

Cases of the MRSA superbug in South West hospitals have fallen by 39 per cent, according to a recent study.

Figures released by the Health Protection Agency on Thursday show hospitals in the region are making good progress in fighting infections.

In the three months January to March 2008, there were 88 cases of MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) across the region.

This is a 39 per cent reduction compared to the same period last year.

Clostridium difficile infections in patients aged over 65, the most affected age group, have also fallen.

Between January and March 2007 there were 1,658 cases of the antibiotic-associated diarrhoea bug.

In the same period this year that number has fallen to 1262 – a reduction of 24 per cent.

Liz Redfern, director of nursing and patient care at NHS South West, said: “I am encouraged by the latest infection rate data, and to see that many trusts have made even further improvements in recent months in terms of combating infections.

“This is thanks to the hard work of staff across the South West.

(c) 2008 Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.