The government today faced accusations of failing to improve NHS hygiene as new figures showed rising numbers of deaths linked to hospital superbugs.
The number of deaths in England and Wales involving the virulent bacteria Clostridium difficile (C diff) rose by 69% between 2004 and 2005, while the number involving MRSA rose by 39% over the same period, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The number of death certificates in England and Wales mentioning C diff rose from 2,247 in 2004 to 3,807 in 2005, while those mentioning MRSA rose from 1,168 to 1,629.
The increases are in line with spiralling levels of superbug-related deaths over the past 14 years. The number of death certificates mentioning MRSA increased by nearly 40 times between 1993 and 2005, the ONS figures showed.
The number of cases where MRSA and C diff were cited as the underlying cause of death also rose significantly.
MRSA was recorded as the underlying cause on 15 death certificates in 1993 and on 467 in 2005. C diff was recorded as the underlying cause on 531 certificates in 1999, rising to 2,074 in 2005.
Part of the rise in the number of superbugs is believed to be due to changes in the surveillance of cases, with a mandatory reporting scheme now in place.
The Patients Association said it was not surprised by the continued rise in superbugs and warned that the government's latest NHS reforms could make the situation even worse.
A spokeswoman said: "It reinforces the picture we already have of a substantial increase in C diff and MRSA rates and our worry is that these figures will continue to rise as other priorities take precedence."
She added that the government's announcement this week of plans to reduce hospital waiting times by conducting "round-the-clock operations" would further undermine hygiene controls in hospital as there would not be room to isolate infected patients.
The Conservatives also blamed government reforms for the rising infection rates, claiming that reductions in the number of hospital beds were hindering quarantine measures.
The shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, said: "The staggering increase in deaths from C diff and MRSA is worrying enough and the increasing presence of more dangerous strains of C diff and MRSA will become an even bigger problem without an urgent and rigorous strategy now.
"Labour's savage bed cuts over the past two years have allowed deaths from C diff and MRSA to grow to this appalling level."
Karen Jennings, head of health at the public service union Unison, said: "These shocking figures show that MRSA and C difficile have a deadly grip on our NHS. Dirt is not cheap.
"We need to wage war on these superbugs and cleaning and cleaners should be on the frontline as an integral part of the infection control team.
"No one wants to be treated in a dirty hospital, but sadly the culture of cleaning was sold off at the same time as compulsory competitive tendering was brought in.
"It's time for hospitals to set safe minimum staffing levels for their cleaning services - patients and staff deserve nothing less."
The health minister Lord Hunt said NHS trusts had been set "very tough targets" to reduce infections and had to follow a hygiene code and tough inspection regime.
He added: "Many people who have healthcare-associated infections are very sick and are vulnerable to infections, not all of which are avoidable, but we are ensuring that the NHS has good hand hygiene and correct clinical procedures to prevent the ones that are."
