Stemming the rise of superbugs

File on 4, Tuesday 28th November at 20:00 GMT

Admission to hospital for a major operation or treatment for an acute condition carries enough worry for a patient.

But the increase in so-called hospital bugs means that some patients are worried they might die from infections picked up on wards.

The Government has pledged to halt the rise of infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

Trusts 'not reporting' superbugs

But leading clinicians believe its target to reduce MRSA outbreaks by 2008 is too optimistic.

While reliable figures for C. difficile are difficult to establish.

And the problem is compounded by continuing concerns over hospital cleanliness.

Alan Urry asks, are the Government and hospital trusts really doing enough to protect patients from the bugs?