by Nic Rigby BBC News, Norwich

Luke died the day after he was born in Ipswich Hospital

In February, baby Luke Day died at Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk after contracting the bug.

In the same month there were concerns that two hospitals in the East may have put pregnant women and babies at increased risk of superbug MRSA.

Colchester and West Suffolk hospital admitted use of spare obstetric beds for other patients at very busy times.

The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents doctors, says this increases the risk of infection.

Experts and political parties and candidate have put forward a range of ways to deal with this "super-bug",

If you go to (a supermarket) and buy the cheapest cleaning fluid - that is basically what they are using MRSA expert Dr Chris Malyszewicz

Lots of people carry MRSA, but it is unlikely to do you any harm unless you are in a weakened condition - which is why it is particularly dangerous for patients in hospital.

Northants-based MRSA expert Dr Chris Malyszewicz said many contracted-out cleaning services in the NHS used cleaning products so weak that they had no effect on the MRSA bug.

"They have been found using neutral detergents. If you go to ( a supermarket) and buy the cheapest cleaning fluid - that is basically what they are using.

Call for matrons

"These are not suitable. It actually spreads the growth of bacteria."

Dr Malyszewicz, of Chemsol Consultancy, Bugbrooke, Northants, said there were two steps that could be taken to combat MRSA.

"I have lobbied for first for the return of the matron. That will give us more control on what is being done in current hospitals.

"And secondly we must give contract cleaners a nominated product that is known to be very efficient."

David Ruffley, Conservative candidate for Bury St Edmunds, said for a number of years he had called for matrons in hospitals to be given stronger powers.

"If there is a suspicion of MRSA on any ward, the decision whether to close a ward should be the matron's not the senior managers," he said.

Mr Ruffley said hospital managers are more likely less concerned about patient safety and more concerned about how a ward closure hits its performance in government league tables."

'Attention to detail'

Phyllis Starkey, Labour candidate for Milton Keynes South West, said Milton Keynes General Hospital had improved its record in tackling MRSA.

"They have done it by enormous attention to detail in the cleaning routine and also a lot of public education so that patients and visitors as well as staff understand the need (to keep themselves clean) as many people carry MRSA, " he said.

He said he had asked about the effect of competitive tendering on cleaning, and there had been cut backs in non-clinical areas such as offices.

Compulsory training

Norman Lamb, Lib Dem candidate for Norfolk North, said: "The most important thing is to ensure that staff in hospitals understand what is needed to tackle the problem.

"Every front line NHS staff manager must have compulsory training in this and doctors and nurses should have the power to close wards (following an MRSA infection).

"Health service targets should not prevent this."

Adrian Ramsay, Green Party candidate for Norwich South, said the spread of MRSA had been helped by the contracting out of cleaning services to private firms.

"We would keep control of cleaning within the NHS," he said.

Jeffrey Titford, UK Independence Party candidate for Harwich, said that the battle to combat MRSA would be helped by "bringing the administration of the hospital back to the hospital itself".

He said his party had long advocated the return of the matron and he was pleased other parties had picked up this idea.

Candidates who are standing so far in the constituencies mentioned above include: