Infection Control Training

The ward, which has 26 beds, was deep-cleaned and closed to new admissions until May.

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the Conquest and Eastbourne DGH, also saw a rise from zero cases of MRSA in May to five in June.

But it is still within the government target of six cases of the superbug for the year to date.

Three of the MRSA -infected patients had the bug before they were admitted to hospital and one was related to vascular surgery at another trust, from which they were transferred.

The trust said hand hygiene had improved, with 94 per cent of staff now complying with the rules.

Clostridium difficile was also below target, with 15 cases per month in June, less than the 18 allowed.

A trust spokesman said: "There was a cluster of patients on Benson ward with Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea (CDAD) which was discovered back in March.

"Some of these patients were admitted to hospital with symptoms and others received antibiotic treatment which can cause CDAD.

"The infection control team investigated the affected patients to assess risk of transmission, and appropriate action was taken.

"This included the closure of the ward to admissions from March 26 for seven weeks, limits on the movement of staff and patients, as well as additional deep cleaning of the entire ward and all equipment using the Bioquell hydrogen peroxide decontamination system."

Tina Lloyd, the trust's lead infection control nurse, said: "The action and measures we have introduced over the last few years have been successful in reducing the overall incidents of clostridium difficile despite the national trend.

"Overall the incidents of clostridium difficile at the trust are lower than the national average.

"The trust has been exceeding its target to reduce incidents of Clostridium difficile and has shown a year on year reduction."

Clostridium difficile is the major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis, an infection of the intestines.

It most commonly affects elderly patients with other underlying conditions.