Centre spearheads superbugs fight

Infections such as the superbug MRSA will be studied

A new multi-million pound research facility to lead the fight against superbugs is to be built at St Andrews University.

The Fife centre will host experts studying hospital acquired infections such as the superbug MRSA and clostridium difficile.

Researchers at the £5m facility also hope to improve understanding of diseases such as cancer and bird flu.

Funding for the project was awarded by the Wellcome Trust.

Professor James Naismith, director of the facility, which is part of the university's Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, said: "Our aim is to improve human health, not just in Scotland, but across the world, by tackling these emerging pathogenic diseases.

"This contribution from the Wellcome Trust is the first step to realising this vision."

University principal Dr Brian Lang welcomed the funding announcement.

He said: "This university is committed to improving the quality of human life by fostering an interdisciplinary environment where cutting edge scientific discovery takes place."

A report published last week showed a dip in the number of clostridium difficile (C.diff) and MRSA cases.

Health Protection Scotland figures showed that in April-June this year, C.diff cases fell by 7% on the previous quarter, from 1,861 to 1,732.

MRSA cases fell 6% over the quarter, from 197 to 185.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the traditional role of matron was to return to hospital wards as part of a drive to tackle infections.