MRSA and C. diff deaths falling

MRSA deaths continue to fall

The number of deaths from two hospital infections, MRSA and Clostridium difficile, has fallen between 2010 and 2011, according to figures for England and Wales.

Deaths from MRSA fell by a quarter, from 485 in 2010 to 364 in 2011.

There were 2,053 C. difficile infections last year, compared with 2,704 the year before.

Earlier this year, the Health Protection Agency warned other infections were taking their place.

Both infections have shown large declines over the past five years after being repeatedly targeted by government policies.

However, there is some concern other infections such as E.coli appear to be rising.

England's health minister, Simon Burns, said: "The news that MRSA deaths are lower than at any point in the last 15 years is a testament to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff across the country."

In Wales from 2011-2012, cases of C.difficle infections fell by 32% and MRSA cases by around 9%.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We work with healthcare organisations to ensure that they have robust, sustainable infection prevention and control measures in place and that staff have the skills, knowledge and resources to provide care in a safe environment.

"They also have to ensure that patients and visitors understand the role that they can play in minimising infections - as infection prevention is everyone's business."