The NHS has hit its target to reduce Clostridium difficile infections by 30% two years ahead of schedule it has been revealed.
Annual figures on C difficile, published by the Health Protection Agency, show that the number of infections has fallen by 36% compared to the base level in 2007/8, when a target was set for such infections to be reduced by 30% by 2010/11.
Meanwhile the number of MRSA bloodstream infections has fallen by a further 29% since the NHS met its target to halve MRSA bloodstream infections last year.
This means that the risk of a patient becoming infected with an MRSA bacteraemia or C difficile is at its lowest for five years.
Speaking at the NHS Innovation EXPO in London Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: “I am exceptionally proud of the NHS staff who have truly risen to the tough challenge we set them to substantially reduce healthcare associated infections. Because of their tireless hard work the target to reduce C difficile infections by 30% has today been met and exceeded with numbers down by 36% - 2 years ahead of schedule.
"Once again, these figures show that our strategy to reduce healthcare associated infections is working and that the NHS is delivering safer, high quality care.
"One preventable infection is one too many and this remains a top priority for the Government and the NHS. That is why I have asked the National Quality Board to help develop a new minimum standard that will ensure all hospitals drive down MRSA bloodstream infections to the levels currently being achieved by the best performers - making the NHS even safer for staff and patients.”