SOUTHAMPTON hospital chiefs have assured people they are winning the battle against the deadly superbug MRSA.
But their pledge comes as the disease claimed its highest profile victim so far - Hampshire film director Ken Russell.
Movie maker Mr Russell, 77, has told how he was diagnosed with the life-threatening illness while he was being treated for a mystery back problem at Southampton General Hospital.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo the film-maker revealed that he had tested positive for MRSA after asking to be moved to a private hospital.
His wife Alise said she feared her husband would die.
The Daily Echo revealed in July that the number of hospital-acquired MRSA infections at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Southampton General Hospital, had risen from 53 cases in 2002/2003 to 62 in 2003/2004.
The average number of detected cases among patients at the hospital every month during the past year has been 60.
A Southampton General Hospital spokesman said combating MRSA was a high priority.
More on this story in tonight's Daily Echo.
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