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NHS superbug figures 'offer hope' NHS superbug figures 'offer hope'
(10 minutes later)
Hospitals in England may be beginning to win the battle against infections, latest figures suggest.Hospitals in England may be beginning to win the battle against infections, latest figures suggest.
Cases of MRSA are down by 10% from April to June - but it is not enough to halve the rate by the 2008 target date, the Health Protection Agency revealed.Cases of MRSA are down by 10% from April to June - but it is not enough to halve the rate by the 2008 target date, the Health Protection Agency revealed.
And there are early indications Clostridium difficile infections may also be falling - the number of new cases was down 7% in the same period.And there are early indications Clostridium difficile infections may also be falling - the number of new cases was down 7% in the same period.
But experts warned there had been changes in the way data was collected.But experts warned there had been changes in the way data was collected.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the MRSA figures were impressive given hospitals were treating increasing numbers of elderly and seriously ill patients.The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the MRSA figures were impressive given hospitals were treating increasing numbers of elderly and seriously ill patients.
The latest quarterly figures for MRSA show 1,303 cases reported between April and June this year compared with 1,447 reported between January and March.The latest quarterly figures for MRSA show 1,303 cases reported between April and June this year compared with 1,447 reported between January and March.
For C difficile, the figures showed there were 13,660 cases in patients aged 65 years or over from April to June 2007, a reduction of 1,022 cases on the same period last year.For C difficile, the figures showed there were 13,660 cases in patients aged 65 years or over from April to June 2007, a reduction of 1,022 cases on the same period last year.
C difficile is compared to the same period as last year as it tends to peak in the winter, unlike MRSA.
MRSA has been steadily falling since September 2006, but C difficile cases have been on the rise.MRSA has been steadily falling since September 2006, but C difficile cases have been on the rise.
HPA infection expert Dr Georgia Duckworth said: "The results in this report show that there can be, and have been, significant reductions for some infections."