Hospital bosses are winning the fight against potentially fatal superbugs.

Not one patient staying at hospitals in Worthing, Shoreham and Chichester in 2011 developed MRSA.

Cases of clostridium difficile have also fallen significantly with just 63 cases reported between April and December last year compared to 95 the year before.

In November there were no c-diff cases at all at Worthing Hospital, which is very rare in a busy major hospital.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Marianne Griffiths said: “Of course we cannot possibly guarantee that this run will go on forever, but we always aim to have no cases, and will continue to do so.

“To go for the whole of 2011 without any new MRSA cases speaks volumes for the standards of care at our hos- pitals.”

The trust has prioritised infection control in recent years.

Health bosses say some of the key improvements behind the MRSA milestone include cleaning teams visiting each ward at least twice a day and investing in nursing.

Chairwoman of the West Sussex Local Involvement Network watchdog, Vicki King said: “This is really good news for patients.

“We recognise that sustained hard work is needed to reduce all healthcare associated infections and will continue to use our independent voice to influence this.”