Cases of MRSA dropped by almost a quarter at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals in the last quarter of the year.

Figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show there were 10 cases of MRSA bacteria found in patients between April and June compared with 13 for the previous quarter.

There was also a 50 per cent cut when compared to the same quarter in 2007 - a drop of 20 cases.

However the trust continued to see a significant number of cases of MRSA brought into hospital from the local community.

Between April and June there were five people found to have MRSA bacteria with 48 hours of arrival, with eight between January and March.

Chief executive Samantha Jones said: “Infection control continues to be the trust’s number one priority and I am very pleased with the new figures.

“We have put in place a raft of tough measures to cut the number of infections, including an extension to our MRSA screening programme, so that we can detect and treat it quicker.

“We are not complacent, however, and will continue to do all we possibly can in our fight against MRSA and other infections.”

She added: “We are working very closely with our local primary care trusts to try and reduce the number of MRSA bacteria being brought into our hospitals from the local community, including from nursing and other care homes.”

Measures introduced by the trust in its fight against healthcare acquired infections include: • Increasing the training given to all staff about infection control

• Launching a major hand hygiene awareness campaign targeted at staff, patients and visitors;

• Undertaking a £300,000 deep clean of hospitals.