Handwashing is still key to reducing hospital infections

The nurse will be appointed this week as part of the continuing push to lower rates of MRSA.

"The top priority for the top nurse will be cleanliness in hospitals," Mr Reid told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme.

At least 5,000 people die each year from such hospital-acquired infections.

However, the National Audit Office has warned that the true figure may be much higher.

MRSA MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) first appeared in the 1960s Some strains are resistant to almost all known antibiotics Cases have increased by 600% in the past decade Cases are expected to double again in the next six years Efforts to combat it cost the NHS �1bn a year

Many things that had caused the infections - old hospitals, a lack of single rooms, lack of staff, etc - were being tackled, Mr Reid said.

"We inherited ...a situation were the hospitals were run down and staff were short."

However, he said that "old lessons needed to be relearned about simple hygiene".

"I believe that cleanliness in hospitals should be the responsibility of the nurses and the matrons," he added.

The government earlier announced measures to combat the "superbugs", such as bringing in overseas experts and publishing infection rates, in a bid to reduce rates.

The UK has one of the highest levels of hospital infections in Europe.

They are estimated to cost the NHS around �1 billion a year.