MONDAY, JULY 28: Despite an increase in c-difficile cases, the NHS South West has welcomed 'encouraging' signs after a Health Protection Agency report into infection control. Though quarterly c-diff figures were on the up at the Royal Devon and Exeter, MRSA cases were sla

Despite an increase in c-difficile cases, the NHS South West has welcomed 'encouraging' signs after a Health Protection Agency report into infection control.Though quarterly c-diff figures were on the up at the Royal Devon and Exeter, MRSA cases were slashed by more than half, year-on-year.Health bosses said hospitals were committed to higher standards of cleanliness and prioritising infection control.Liz Redfern, Director of Nursing and Patient Care at NHS South West, said:"I am encouraged by the latest infection rate data, and to see that many Trusts have made even further improvements in recent months in terms of combating infections."Whilst rates may indicate progress is being made, we simply cannot afford anything less than a zero tolerance attitude towards bugs."Figures released last week show a quarterly increase in reports of c-diff in patients aged between two and 64 at the RD&E. First quarter results for 2007/08 showed 12 cases, second quarter 16, third 13 and a figure of 16 for the final quarter, January to March this year.Annual figures for c-diff cases for 65 year-olds and over in 2007 showed an increase on the previous year, from 204 to 283. Figures remain substantially lower than the 681 cases reported in 2005. Eighteen cases of MRSA were recorded at the hospital from April 2007 to March 2008, as opposed to figures of 37, 39 and 37 cases in the previous three terms.