MRSA is an infection resistant to antibiotics

The Medical Research Fund Coventry and Warwickshire is being set up by experts at Warwick University.

The number of MRSA superbug cases is at its lowest level in English NHS hospitals since mandatory records began in 2001, says the government.

It said there were 6% fewer cases between April and September last year than in the same period in 2003.

Treat 'rapidly'

Professor of Microbiology at Warwick University, Chris Dowson, said: "We can bring together some of the really innovative tools to help the diagnosis of infections such as MRSA.

"So perhaps rather than having to wait two hours, which might be the waiting time for some of the new tools that might become available, we might be able to do this in seconds.

"So patients might be screened the instant they walk into hospital.

"Hospital-acquired infections change with medical practices.

"Certainly hygiene is important but hand washing alone is not going to solve the problem.

"We need to implement appropriate use of antibiotics and appropriate diagnostic tools so we can identify, isolate and treat these organisms as rapidly as possible."