Among the speakers will be Tony Kavanagh, an MRSA survivor living in Galway, one of hundreds of people who contracted the superbug in hospital and who is now taking legal action, citing medical negligence. He went into a Dublin hospital a relatively fit and healthy man for a routine operation in 2004 at age 54. It was his first ever stay at hospital and he wasn't worried. But while there, he contracted the superbug and almost died in the coming months.

Three years later, Kavanagh still hasn't been able to return to work, and probably never will, because of ongoing health problems. "It was a routine operation but it became a life-changing experience that will plague the rest of my life. It affected my whole family. Our life, as we knew it, was over. But I know I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm alive."

Kavanagh's operation to improve blood circulation in his legs was successful and he was discharged a few days later only to be rushed back to hospital as an emergency case as he had developed MRSA in some of his surgical wounds. "I was only given a 30% chance of survival. Later, I flat-lined during a procedure and nearly bled to death."

Kavanagh stressed taking legal action against the hospital was as much about acknowledgment that he contracted the superbug in hospital because of sub-standard hygiene as it was about compensation. "What we are all really looking for is an apology."

The legal advisor to the MRSA & Families group will address the conference on the progression of the various legal cases. Dr Betsy McCaughey, founder of the US Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, will address the conference on new technologies to make eradication of infections possible.

"We have compelling evidence that 90% of hospital-acquired infections can be eradicated if simple measures are introduced.

"It is shocking that for so long both governments and hospitals have denied that there is no connection between cleanliness and safety from infection, " she said.

The day-long conference will also hear from Dr Ian Hosein, of the NHS hospital trust in Cardiff and Vale, who will speak about a holistic approach to MRSA prevention.