Article: Overcrowding in hospitals 'is behind the high rates of MRSA'.

Byline: Jenny Hope

OVERCROWDING in hospitals is creating a 'vicious circle' of superbuginfections, researchers say.

Seven out of ten wards are exceeding bed occupancy targets, an analysis foundyesterday.

This is putting patients at increased risk of contracting MRSA, according to areport in The Lancet Infectious Diseases medical journal.

Infected patients are forced to spend longer in hospital, which contributes to'bed blocking' and also makes them more likely to contract otherhospital-acquired diseases.

MRSA campaigners predict that around 40 per cent of trusts will breach theGovernment's target of halving infection rates this year.

Of 89 foundation ...

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