Cases of MRSA have dropped by more than a quarter in three months.

There were 19 cases in Kent's hospitals between July and September compared to 26 cases for the period April to June.

The figures, released by the Health Protection Agency show that MRSA infections in the South East have now fallen to their lowest levels in two years, the total is down by 56 percent for the same period in 2006.

NHS South East Coast are attributing the drop to hand washing, training and screening programmes.

Candy Morris, Chief Executive of NHS South East Coast, said: "The persistent attention to cleanliness, hygiene and best clinical practice at hospitals in Kent is making a real difference.

"Cases of MRSA bloodstream infections have been steadily falling across the South East Coast region for two years now and NHS staff at every level are helping us to achieve these results."

"In the regional vision for healthcare, we made a collective commitment to have no avoidable cases of hospital acquired MRSA by 2011 and set out a zero tolerance approach to all hospital acquired infections.

"These latest figures show we are on our way to achieving this - but more still needs to be done."