Rate of hospital superbug infections falling, but MRSA cases 'still too high'

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The rate of hospital superbug infections is falling, figures suggested yesterday.

Critics, however, say the number of cases of MRSA and C diff are still too high.

There were 1,072 MRSA cases reported in England during July to September 2007, down by 18 per cent on the previous quarter.

The Health Protection Agency also revealed there were 10,734 cases of C diff in patients aged 65 and over in the same period, a 21 per cent drop on the previous quarter.

While the Government hailed the report, the HPA warned the figures should be interpreted with care as changes are being made to how cases are reported.

From this month, if the same patient tests positive for C diff more than 28 days apart, these are counted as separate cases.

Health Minister Ann Keen insisted the Government was on target to cut MRSA rates in half by the end of March and Labour's £50million of extra funding to tackle infections was having an effect.

Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley said: "If Labour had taken proper action to fight infections in the first place then we wouldn't have ended up in this situation."