The Government has been accused of failing patients after figures revealed deaths involving MRSA and Clostridium difficile have risen sharply in one year.
Between 2004 and 2005, mention of MRSA on death certificates rose by 39% while mention of C difficile rose 69%, according to figures released from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The number of deaths with C difficile mentioned rose by 69% to 3,807.
In the same period, MRSA mentions on certificates increased by 39% to 1,629.
While political opponents condemned the figures, the ONS and the Government said some of the rise was likely to be down to better reporting.
Commenting on the rates, health minister Lord Hunt said: "We are now getting a far more accurate picture of the number of deaths from C difficile and MRSA with vastly improved recording.
"It is a major challenge for the NHS and a top priority for Government. We have set very tough targets for trusts to reduce infections and put a hygiene code and a tougher inspection regime into law, to drive up standards of hygiene and infection control.
"As a result we are now starting to see significant reductions in rates of MRSA infections.
The Government has set a target of halving rates of MRSA by 2008, but a leaked Government memo published last month said the NHS was not on track to hit the target and probably never would. It also warned that C difficile was endemic in hospitals.
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."
