BOSSES at Carmarthenshire's two acute hospitals say they are winning the war on deadly hospital infections.

Three years ago rates for MRSA infection were more than double the Welsh average, according to new figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

In response to questions over that alarming statistic, hospital chiefs then produced performance reports for Prince Philip and West Wales General, for the third quarter of 2009, which showed rates of MRSA bloodstream infections, and Clostridium difficile (C.diff), were now below the Welsh average.

MRSA bloodstream infections per 100,000 bed days were six, compared with the Welsh average of eight.

The C.diff rate was 14.95 compared with the Welsh average of 15.46. A Hywel Dda Health Board spokeswoman said: "Clostridium difficile rates at the hospitals are consistently low, following a campaign to tackle this area of infection launched at the hospitals in 2006.

"In addition MRSA bloodstream infections have decreased by half from 20 per 100,000 bed days in 2001/02, to 10 in 2007/08, with the current rate at six."

Chief executive Trevor Purt said: "We must look at individual infection rates with caution as they only show a snapshot in time.

"It is far more useful to look at trends which develop over time so you can see what is working and where improvements need to be made.

"We are not complacent and have strict infection control procedures.

"We are also committed to continually monitoring our performance and using best practice to make improvements and reduce the incidence of hospital acquired infections."

The Hywel Dda Health Board is currently piloting a number of new initiatives to tackle infection rates via the 1,000 Lives Campaign.

It aims to save an extra 1,000 lives and avoid up to 50,000 episodes of harm in Welsh healthcare over a two-year period.