The number of people contracting superbug C difficile in Preston, South Ribble and Chorley has fallen, according to latest figures.

The latest quarterly figures for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reveal that Clostridium difficile cases have dropped by more than 40 per cent at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital.

Sue Reed, nursing director and executive lead for infection prevention at the trust, said: “This latest data for C.difficile shows that we are working hard to ensure our hospitals are clean and safe for patients.

“We are making excellent progress to reduce C.difficile infections by but we know we must go further as one avoidable infection is one too many.

“Everyone has a part to play. Good hand hygiene, high standards of cleanliness and sensible use of antibiotics are all vitally important in the fight against infection.”