Mr Selbie, who runs the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, tells staff in his New Year message that good progress has already been made in combating MRSA and Clostridium difficile, but the drive must continue.

He says: "If we do not give this the focus and attention it warrants and drive infections out of our hospitals, then the credibility which has been earned in meeting the Accident and Emergency (four hour wait] standard and in improving our finances will be undermined."

Last year there were 76 reported cases of the superbug MRSA in hospitals within the trust, and to meet the Department of Health's MRSA target there must be a maximum of 43 cases this year.

Last year 220 patients aged 65 and over came down with Clostridium difficile. In addition to poor hygiene, the over-use of some antibiotics which kill good bacteria in the gut are thought to be a contributory factor to Clostridium difficile which causes diarrhoea.

In the continuing drive to push hospital acquired infections down, Mr Selbie invited a team from the Department of Health to visit the trust in October and November last year. Verbal feedback showed the trust had good policies and practices in place but implementation was variable.
Staff at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath were praised for the number of alcohol gel dispensers on display and the effectiveness of an infection control nurse in its intensive care unit.

Patients with intravenous drips are particularly vulnerable to hospital acquired infections and the trust has appointed a Nurse Consultant in Infection Control and started using chlorine to clean high risk areas such as the Barry Building – a Victorian part of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Antibiotics which may contribute to outbreaks of Clostridium difficile have been removed from routine ward stocks to prevent them being prescribed inappropriately.

In his message Mr Selbie tells staff: "By bringing the numbers right down we will send a clear and reassuring message to our patients, their families and everyone else, that we are doing everything we can to provide the best and safest care.

"A positive 'can do' attitude to infection prevention and control, adopting the best practice and the discipline needed to really manage this problem will also have beneficial effects on everything else we do within our hospitals."