New screening at Derriford can detect MRSA within three hours

The figures are contained in a report to be discussed by Plymouth Hospitals Trust, which runs Derriford Hospital.

The unconfirmed figures show a fall in both numbers and rates of cases. In the year to April Derriford had 88 cases - a fall of 10 from the previous year.

The official recording of MRSA rates began in 2001. The government wants to cut MRSA by 60% within three years.

It will take an ever bigger effort and a great deal of hard work to sustain this improvement and that's where we will be focusing our energies Dr Peter Jenks

Dr Peter Jenks, the director of infection and control, says the fall in numbers is encouraging and reflects the effort and hard work by staff throughout the hospital.

He said: "Hand washing is the single most important thing we can all do and it is good to see that this message has got through and is being adhered to by our staff."

Dr Jenks says patients and visitors are being encouraged to ask health professionals whether they have washed their hands before touching patients.

In the last year the hospital has been screening some patients before they are admitted to hospital for surgery.

Those found to be carrying the bug are given eradication therapy to get rid of the bacteria before it becomes a problem for them or anyone else in the hospital.

Derriford is also using a new state-of-the-art screening system, which reduces the detection of MRSA from five days to three hours, minimising the risk of infection.

Dr Jenks said: "Now it will take an ever bigger effort and a great deal of hard work to sustain this improvement and that's where we will be focusing our energies."

Derriford's figures will be confirmed by the Department of Health later this year.