East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Conquest and Eastbourne DGH, saw 53 cases, more than double its target of 24, between April last year and March.

But bosses said they had introduced a range of measures in a bid to tackle MRSA cases and control infections.

Tina Lloyd, the trust's lead Infection control nurse, said: "Infection control and patient safety is a priority for us.

"A number of new measures have been introduced including the introduction of a specialist intravenous team, regular monitoring of hand hygiene, patient empowerment posters at the bedside to encourage patients to challenge doctors and nurses about their hand hygiene and the appointment of a new antibiotic pharmacist who specialises in the treatment of infection.

"Every case of a MRSA bacteraemia is fully investigated by clinical teams to identify the cause of the infection and areas for improvement.

"For the last two and half months we have had no cases of MRSA bacteraemia.

"The 53 cases last year includes patients admitted to hospital from the community with an existing infection.

"We are working closely with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) to help reduce infections in the community and the hospital."