South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust is bucking the trend for England and Wales, where the number of deaths involving C.diff has almost doubled in two years.

Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows a year-on-year rise in the number of related deaths since 2001.

South Tyneside NHS Foundation NHS Trust recorded five in 2001, six in 2002, 11 in 2003, 16 in 2004 and 29 in 2005.

But the figure fell to 12 in 2006 and 10 in 2007.

Dave Shilton, executive director of nursing and clinical governance at South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, said the Trust had seen a general rise in deaths where C.diff has been involved over recent years, with the numbers being consistent with those presented in the national picture.

He said: "There are a number of reasons for this increase. Firstly, following a directive from the Chief Medical Officer, there is now a more consistent approach to reporting of C.diff on death certificates.

"Previously, C.diff would not necessarily have been identified if it wasn't the prime cause of death.

"Also, more frequent testing for C.diff has identified a greater number of patients who are positive."

Nationally, the ONS said 8,324 death certificates mentioned the infection last year, compared with 6,480 the previous year and 3,757 in 2005.

In some of these cases the deaths may have been caused by other factors, but the patient was also infected with C.diff.

Cases of C.diff in North East England and North Yorkshire rose from 182 in 2006 to 295 last year, with increased cases reported at 13 out of 16 hospital trusts in the region.

The Government said the rises were mostly due to an increase in reporting.

A spokeswoman for the North East Strategic Health Authority said it was working towards improvements.

She said: "A key element of this is ensuring we have accurate information on infections, and their consequences, including more complete reporting on death certificates."