He said in addition to hand washing, other useful strategies would be screening patients for MRSA on admission, regular use of hydrogen peroxide vapour generators to kill bugs in the hospital environment and educating patients and visitors on ways they can reduce risk.

BBC: Hand washing is the most effective way of battling MRSA

For this reason, he adds, there remains no scientific evidence that widely promoted protective measures such as hand washing and mask wearing will actually stop people from getting sick.

CNN: Study: Humidifiers may help fight flu

"We are changing every tap on every clinical hand washing basin in every neo-natal unit in Northern Ireland, " he explained.

BBC: Health statement