IRISH hospitals have recorded a sharp drop in the number of potentially lethal superbugs, it has emerged.

Both MRSA and C Difficile, a lethal virus which has a 30% mortality rate, have shown a substantial decrease.

According to figures obtained from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), C Difficile cases have dropped by 36% in the last year, while MRSA levels have now dropped by 37% over the last three years. This is despite the recent deaths in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, of four people who may have contracted C Difficile.

Figures show that in the last 12 months, the number of MRSA cases recorded in public hospitals has fallen to 381. When the collection of data began in 2006, the number of cases stood at 575. Incidences of C Difficile have dropped from last year's number of 1,049 cases to 671 to date this year.

Health professionals have partly attributed the decline to the recent hygiene-awareness campaign surrounding swine flu. However, the HSE has refuted this. "H1N1 emerged in April 2009 and since then the HSE has been working with hospitals to strengthen preparedness," it said. "This includes a particular focus on infection prevention and control. The improvements in MRSA and C Diff rates precede this period and so it would not be valid to conclude that improvements are caused by H1N1 preparedness and awareness."

Margaret Dawson of awareness group MRSA and Families has welcomed the figures, saying they are a "step in the right direction", but also said there was "still a long way to go before Irish hospitals will be clear of the viruses".

"The figure on the drop is great, but the battle is far from over. C Diff is a bigger problem altogether, and it is a much more deadly and serious virus, as it is easier to pick up than MRSA.

"Not enough people are speaking out on this. It is extremely important the progress is kept up," she said.