New healthcare infection reduction targets outlined

The government has outlined its plans to achieve further reductions in the number of cases of infections occurring in healthcare settings during 2012.

Outlined by health minister Simon Burns, the new goals include a 29 percent reduction in MRSA bloodstream infections by April 2013, as well as an 18 percent cut in C. difficile infection rates.

This comes after the most recent monthly NHS statistics showed MRSA infections have been sustained at less than 100 reported cases per month for the last six months, the first time this has been achieved since records began in 2001.

A total of 35 NHS organisations had been completely free of MRSA infections for 12 months as of November 2011, compared to only four in September 2006.

Mr Burns said: "There has been great progress in reducing MRSA bloodstream and C. difficile infections in some parts of the NHS, but we want everyone at the level of the best."

This comes after the Health Protection Agency launched new guidelines last month to help establish control over group A streptococcal infections rates in health facilities.