THE ROYAL Surrey County Hospital in Guildford has been named and shamed with contamination levels of deadly bug Clostridium Difficile in excess of those at the much-maligned Maidstone and Tonbridge Wells Trust. The Royal Surrey is the seventh worst hospital nationwide for the lethal virus, which caused the deaths of 90 patients in Kent. Latest figures depict a national average of 2.39 infections per 1,000 bed days for patients 65 and over, but patients at the Royal Surrey are exposed to an unsanitary 4.48. The Maidstone and Tonbridge Wells Trust measures 3.69. South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt, immediately went on the offensive, writing to chief executives of both hospitals after seeing figures in Sunday's News of the World. "Could you please respond to me as a matter of urgency outlining the Hospital's plans to prevent hospital acquired infections from occurring and the measures you have in place to stop bugs such as C Diff from spreading?," he said. A prompt response came from chief executive of the Royal Surrey Nick Moberly: "The data which has been used is the annualised 2006 data which was released early in 2007 and was widely reported at that time.  "This data is C Diff cases not deaths," he said. "In 2006, we noticed and declared an outbreak in July. This was on a surgical ward and, at the time, was felt to be related to the very complex gastric surgery we do here. It was this peak that put our 2006 average up.  "When we declared the outbreak, we worked very hard to improve the situation, the most important move was to implement a strict antibiotic prescribing policy as well as reinforcing hand hygiene and cleaning measures," he added. A statement from the hospital also read: "The current rate of C Diff infection at the Royal Surrey County Hospital is 1.17 per 1,000 bed days, well below our target for the hospital which is 3.4 per 1,000 bed days. "Following the outbreak, which the trust declared in July 2006, when the rate for that month rose to 5.02 per 1,000 bed days, control measures were reviewed and the number of infections decreased significantly." C Diff is a bacterium found in the gut of three per cent of healthy adults, and 66 per cent of infants, where it is largely harmless. Most at risk are the elderly, with 80 per cent of cases reported in the over 65 group. Health Protection Agency figures depict 42,625 cases of C Diff in patients aged over 65 in England in the first three quarters of 2006 – an alarming rise of 5.5 per cent on 2005's figures. If its growth goes unchecked, and the balance of normal bacteria in the gut is unbalanced, it can cause problems including severe diarrhoea and inflammation of the bowel. Not bracketed as a superbug, it can easily be treated, but incontinent patients and those with diarrhoea can spread the infection. After forming spores, the bug can survive for long spells around toilets and floors, and spread in the air. Vigilant cleaning, using warm water and detergent being the most effective way of removing spores.