Cases of the killer superbug MRSA are on the increase at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital, according to figures published by the Department of Health this week.

Last year, 18 patients in the care of Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the Romsey Road hospital, fell victim to the deadly bacteria, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus-five more than in 2002-3.

Joanna Paul, associate director of operations at the trust, said: "Of the 18 cases, two had MRSA as a contributory factor to their death, but not the sole reason for it.

"In the context of the number of patients we treat, it's a very small number. There were 21 in 2001-02 and it's still down against that baseline. We are not complacent and are still trying to introduce measures to improve the rate."

National Audit Office figures do show patients are far safer in Winchester than at numerous hospitals where MRSA infection rates are much worse. Yet, the number of cases is up, in spite of a four-year battle against the killer bacteria.

The trust's rate per 1,000 overnight stays is just 0.1, substantially lower than the worst performer, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, with a rate of 0.45 per 1,000 overnight stays.

Southampton, Basingstoke and Portsmouth all have higher rates than Winchester and Eastleigh.

"We are in the upper third of best-performing trusts nationally and in the top two in Hampshire," said Joanna Paul.

"We take the issue of MRSA management very seriously. Recognising that patients are still infected with MRSA, we want to improve our rates to improve patient care and experience at the trust."

"We treat 48,000 inpatients a year. We screen those due to undergo high-risk procedures and monitor them in accordance with national guidance. We have also achieved consistently good standards of cleanliness."

Pre-emptive action is also taken to treat patients who have the MRSA bug on their bodies, who, even though they have no adverse affects, could still pass the infection on.

The trust has pledged to expand its infection-control team to provide more education and support for staff and patients. The trust is also planning to bring together infection control and surgical expertise into a special ward, managing patients with MRSA and other associated infections.

"We welcome the initiatives announced by John Reid, the recommendations from the National Audit Office and other government advice to help manage this important issue," she concluded.

This week, the Department of Health again pledged to clean up hospitals and cut hospital-acquired infections, which kill 5,000 people every year and cost the NHS around £1bn. Despite a £60m clean-up ordered four years ago. MRSA infections are still on the up.