Hospital-Acquired Infection Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide (2026)

When Healthcare Itself Causes Harm

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are among the most persistent and serious patient safety challenges in the NHS. The UK has made remarkable progress — MRSA bacteraemia has fallen by 76% since its peak in 2007/08. But in 2024/25, MRSA cases are rising again, C. difficile infections are increasing sharply enough to trigger a national incident response, and E. coli bacteraemia continues its long-term growth. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — the capacity of bacteria to defeat the antibiotics used to treat them — threatens to reverse decades of progress.

Key Facts & Figures (Overview)

MRSA: Progress and Resurgence

From a peak of 4,451 cases in 2007/08, sustained MRSA prevention efforts reduced the rate to just 1.2 cases per 100,000 population during the COVID years (2020–2022). The increase to 1,064 cases in 2024/25 — a 16.9% rise — is concerning. While levels remain dramatically below the pre-intervention peak, any upward movement in a zero-tolerance indicator demands serious attention. The causes are under investigation but likely reflect NHS capacity pressures, reduced IPC resource during and after the pandemic, and antimicrobial resistance trends.

C. difficile: A National Incident Response

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile, or CDI) is a bacterial gut infection typically affecting patients who have received antibiotics that disrupt normal gut flora. It causes severe diarrhoea, colitis, and in serious cases, toxic megacolon and death. Rising CDI rates in 2024/25 prompted UKHSA to stand up a National Incident Response — the first such escalation for CDI in many years. CDI infection rates at some trusts exceed NHS England trajectory thresholds.

Key risk factors: antibiotic use (particularly broad-spectrum); advanced age; hospitalisation; immunosuppression; proton pump inhibitor use.

E. coli Bacteraemia: The Growing Challenge

With 43,639 cases in 2024/25, E. coli bacteraemia dwarfs MRSA in absolute terms — a 35% increase since surveillance began in 2012/13. The majority of cases are community-onset (arising from UTIs and bowel conditions), but 19.2% (approximately 8,400 per year) are hospital-onset. Preventing hospital-onset E. coli bacteraemia requires rigorous urinary catheter care, wound management, hand hygiene, and environmental cleaning.

Hand Hygiene: The Most Important Intervention

The most evidence-based, cost-effective intervention for reducing healthcare-associated infections remains consistent and correct hand hygiene. The "5 Moments for Hand Hygiene" framework (WHO) is the global standard. Alcohol hand gel alone is ineffective against C. difficile spores — soap and water are required for CDI prevention.

Antimicrobial Resistance

The AMR National Action Plan 2024–2029, published by the UK Government in May 2024, sets out commitments to:

AMR is listed on the UK Government's National Risk Register. The WHO has declared it one of the top 10 global public health threats.

Written by CPD Experts

This guide was produced by the team at Online CPD Academy, a UK provider of CPD-accredited online training courses. Our infection control training covers hand hygiene, standard precautions, PPE selection, isolation procedures, and antimicrobial stewardship.

Sources & References