AN infection scare has closed the region's largest centre for hip and knee replacements.

Bosses at Bishop Auckland Hospital, in County Durham, decided to close the unit because of an unacceptably high level of infections.

Since it opened in October, 120 joint replacement operations have been carried out.

The decision to halt operations was taken after five patients developed post-operative infections.

Managers decided to call a temporary halt just before Christmas and close ward 19.

What is baffling senior clinicians is that there appears to be no obvious link between the infections.

Mr Howard Epstein, head of orthopaedic surgery at the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We take this issue very seriously. If the patient becomes infected it can be extremely difficult to get rid of the infection."

In the worst case, patients who fail to shake off an infection may have to have another joint replacement operation.

Most of the five patients have made a full recovery, although one is still being monitored. None of them have developed the MRSA superbug which is resistant to antiobiotic treatment.

In common with other specialist joint replacement units, the Bishop Auckland centre has very tight anti-infection controls.

Despite stringent checks, no pattern of infection had been discovered and operating theatres have continued to be used for other types of surgery.

Patients due to have joint replacement operations at Bishop Auckland have been transferred to either the University Hospital of North Durham or Darlington Memorial Hospital. Only a handful of operations were cancelled.

Staff working at the Bishop Auckland unit have also been temporarily moved to sister hospitals.

The hospital is hoping to re-open the joint replacement unit towards the end of next week after the completion of a final round of checks.