PRINCESS Alexandra Hospital has seen an increase in the number of superbug infections with an average of more than three cases per month, latest figures show.

The Government is losing its battle to cut hospital deaths from antibiotic-resistant bugs like MRSA and nearly one in ten patients nationally are infected with a superbug while in hospital.

The Harlow hospital has seen a rise in MRSA infections from 33 between April 2001 and March 2002 to 37 between April 2002 to March last year.

Its most recent infection rate was 0.18 per 1,000 bed days for the year ending March last year, increasing from 0.16 from March 2002.

The Government has now made it a top priority to halt the rise in antibiotic-resistant superbugs. One of the ways the bugs spread is through poor hygiene.

A Princess Alexandra Hospital spokesman said: "Combating hospital-acquired infections is an ongoing war but it has to be remembered that MRSA is everywhere and not just in hospitals. We have a good record for controlling infection and we have put a number of people and resources into combating infection control."

Each ward at Princess Alexandra Hospital has an infection control nurse and there is a specialised doctor with Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust to issue protocol.

Within the last few months hospital staff have installed alcohol gel dispensers in each ward to help nurses and doctors keep clean between examinations. The alcohol gel currently being used at the hospital kills 99.8 per cent of bugs.

The worst hospital trust in the country for superbug infections is North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust, in Edmonton, with a 0.3 infection rate per 1,000 bed days. The best rated hospital was York which had a rate of just 0.04. The Harlow spokesman added: "We want patients to be aware of the new gel dispensers and to remind staff. MRSA is treatable but we're certainly not complacent."

Whipps Cross Hospital saw a drop in MRSA figures from 45 in the year ending March 2002 to 43 between April 2002 and March last year. The Leytonstone hospital's most recent infection rate was slightly better than Princess Alexandra's at 0.16 per 1,000 bed days.