Drop in hospital superbug cases

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) data showed a 10% drop in cases of MRSA in England, from 7,069 between April 2005 to March 2006 to 6,381 between April 2006 and March 2007.

When figures for C diff are compared across the same quarter, there has been a 7% drop this year compared to last.

Between April and June 2007, there were 13,660 cases in patients over the age of 65 compared with 14,682 cases between April and June 2006.

The HPA said the figures should be interpreted with care as there had been recent changes to the way the number of cases are monitored that may have impacted on the figures.

The number of cases of C diff in patients aged two to 64 are now counted. Between April and June this year there were 2,890 cases among this age group.

The figures on C diff are an early indication that hospitals may be winning the battle against bugs.

But Georgia Duckworth, from the HPA Centre For Infections, said there had been a reduction in the latest quarterly figures "but overall this looks like a plateauing".

She said figures for 2006, compared with 2005, had showed an annual rise of 7% and there had been a 16% rise in the year before.

"What it now looks like is that we might be going into the plateau. Let's hope this marks the beginning of a plateauing that goes into a downturn."