Serious cases of MRSA infections have risen by more than half at Southend Hospital, but overall infection rates have plunged.

Last January, the hospital launched a hit squad of germ busters to scrub the wards in an effort to stop bugs spreading.

Despite this, the number of cases where MRSA entered patients' bloodstreams rose from ten in 2005 to 16 in 2006.

But the number of people who picked it up during a hospital stay fell from 129 in 2005 to 75 in 2006.

Hospital spokeswoman Pat Stone said: "It is something we are very vigilant about and are trying to tackle all the time.

"Almost one in three people carry it and are not affected by it, but if someone has it, the danger is they could infect someone else.

"If we find a person has it, even if they are not affected, we give them eradication therapy, which is a special body wash and a special nasal ointment."

Ms Stone said the hospital had also implemented other measures so staff could identify cases more quickly.

She added: "For patients who are considered at risk and are having any invasive procedure, we also give eradication therapy."

She said the hospital was constantly on guard against easily-spread bugs, such as MRSA and the norovirus, better known as the winter vomiting bug, which regularly forces the closure wards in hospitals across the country, including Southend.

Last month, two wards were closed after an outbreak.

However, it can be easily prevented with regular hand washing, and with scrupulous food hygeine.