A Bristol hospital trust is failing to meet its targets for infections, according to new figures.

Cases of MRSA at Southmead and Frenchay hospitals have almost reached their annual target in just the first five months of the year, and incidents of clostridium difficile (c.diff) have overtaken their plans.

But bosses at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) pointed out their MRSA targets were particularly low this year because there were so few cases in the 2008/09 financial year, and cases of c.diff are still lower than in previous years.

The trust has a target of 20 for the whole year, but by the end of August 18 cases had already been recorded.

Dr Elizabeth Darley, consultant and director of infection prevention and control, told a meeting of the NBT board that critical care stands out as an area within the trust where there is a problem with MRSA.

She said many of the cases related to burns patients, who were particularly at risk of the infection due to skin problems. She added: "We are drilling down very hard on these cases to try to prevent further cases. We will have to work very hard at minimising future cases for the rest of this year."