Health chiefs in Shropshire are winning the war against superbugs including MRSA and C diff after hitting targets aimed at limiting the number of infections, a new report reveals.

A report to today’s board meeting of Shropshire County Primary Care Trust says that there were eight cases of MRSA superbug infection in the area, meeting the set target of no more than eight infections.

The PCT also achieved both its national and local Clostridium difficile (C diff) reduction targets.

The report says: “The cumulative total at year end was 136 cases; against a national target of no more than 222 cases and a local target of no more than 148 cases.

“This represents a 10 per cent reduction over 2009/10 figures when 151 cases were recorded, and a 26 per cent reduction over 2008/09 figures, when 183 cases were recorded.”

Officials say that community hospitals and care homes in the PCT areas experienced “a number of sporadic gastrointestinal outbreaks”.

The report says: “The development, revision and implementation of a number of Infection and Prevention Control polices have supported staff to deliver care in accordance with best practice.

“In turn this has contributed to achieving the MRSA bacteraemia and Clostridium difficile reduction targets and improving the patient’s experience in relation to cleanliness and infection control.”

According to the report, the PCT has been highlighted for its success in implementing a campaign encouraging patients, staff and visitors to clean their hands regularly on wards.

In the PCT provider services, Shropshire County PCT was highlighted in the 2010 staff survey.

Its score of 68 per cent was among the best 20 per cent compared with PCTs of a similar type.

The figure comes after a report to the board of NHS Telford and Wrekin earlier this month showed the PCT recorded two cases of the MRSA infection in a year. The trust also reported that it had had a lower number of cases than the national target for C diff but missed the local target by two cases.

By Russell Roberts