WINCHESTER health chiefs say they are doing all that they can to tackle hospital infections.

Rates for superbugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C diff) across Hampshire are on the rise, according to the latest figures.

At the Royal Hampshire County Hospital (RHCH) in Winchester, the number of C diff cases rose from 128 in 2005 to 156 in 2006 and 60 between January and May this year.

In a statement, the Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Healthcare Trust said: "A C diff action group was formed in February to help ensure the trust is doing all it can to reduce infection."

Changes include greater use of soap and water instead of alcohol gel when dealing with patients with C diff; revised antibiotic policy to minimise the triggering of C diff; a new chlorine-based detergent; a declutter of wards to help keep them clean and a weekly audit to ensure that staff are washing their hands properly.

The trust said that figures for MRSA at the RHCH were misleading. Infection rates did rise from five in 2005-06 to 13 in 2006-07, but the latest figure is still down on previous years - 2001-02, 21; 2002-03, 13; 2003-04, 18; 2004-05, 15.