However, the SNP’s health spokeswoman expressed concern at the potential for infection with staff having to “rush” their work due to inadequate staffing levels.

She’s also worried that, as some NHS boards have a higher success rate with infection control measures than others, there could be a lack of consistency in tackling VRE in hospitals.

Last year there were 500 cases of VRE in Scotland, which breaks down the body’s resistance to other bacteria and can lead to illnesses such as septicaemia and pneumonia.

The Scottish Executive has launched a £15m campaign to counter VRE and other hospital bugs.

In a Parliamentary question, Ms Robison asked health minister Andy Kerr what additional guidelines are being put in place to combat the emerging spread of VRE in hospitals.

Mr Kerr said work is underway to improve surveillance and monitoring of VRE and guidance on prudent antibiotic prescribing in hospitals will be published in the very near future.

“I welcome the fact work is underway to improve surveillance and monitoring of the emerging spread of VRE in hospitals which does require improvement,” said Ms Robison.

“My only concern would be some health boards are better at infection control measures than others and we must ensure they are carried out to the letter in every hospital.

“The last figures showed a variation in boards when it comes to control.

“You can have guidance and guidelines coming out of your ears, but it’s how they are implemented.

“The real strain is carrying out these measures to the letter if you are running around with half of your posts vacant.

“If all hospitals carried out infection control to the letter and had enough staff, no matter what the bug, that should be enough to ensure no outbreaks.”

NHS Tayside confirmed there have been cases in the region of VRE resistant to the most common antibiotic used for the treatment of serious or severe infections.

A raft of new measures have been introduced by NHS Tayside to combat VRE and other hospital infections, and high-risk patients in Tayside are being screened for the bug.

NHS Tayside unveiled the Clean Hands Improve Patient Safety (CHIPS) campaign in a bid to stop the spread of hospital infections.

Responding to Ms Robison, Health Minister Andy Kerr stated, “The measures to control VRE are largely those which are being put in place to control other health care associated infections (HAIs), such as standard infection control precautions, isolation of infected patients, routine scrupulous hand hygiene and prudent prescribing of antibiotics.

“A raft of infection prevention and control standards, professional guidance, education and training programmes and clear staff roles and responsibilities has been produced by the Ministerial HAI Task Force, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Health Protection Scotland, and others.

“Work is under way to improve surveillance and monitoring of VRE and other antibiotic resistant infections. Guidance on prudent antibiotic prescribing in hospitals will be published soon.”