The research aims to find new ways to tackle superbugs

Glasgow University researchers are aiming to find out more about why the infections develop and come up with new ways of treating patients.

UK figures show nearly one in 10 patients acquire an infection during a stay in hospital.

The project, which is being headed by the Scottish Infection Research Network, has received Scottish government funding of �10,000.

The network's director, Alistair Leonard, said tackling healthcare-associated infections was "critical" to the well-being of the nation.

His team will work with universities and the health service to find new ways of controlling bacterial infection.

MRSA can cause a wide range of serious diseases including pneumonia, septicaemia, and bone infections.

It can only be reliably treated with an intravenous antibiotic over a period of several days.