Female Muslim medical students are refusing to obey hygiene rules brought in to stop the spread of deadly superbugs.

Women training in several hospitals in England, according to the Telegraph, have raised objections to removing their arm coverings in theatre and to rolling up their sleeves when washing their hands, because it is regarded as immodest in Islam.

Universities and NHS trusts fear many more will refuse to co-operate with new Department of Health guidance, introduced this month, which stipulates that all doctors must be “bare below the elbow”.

The measure is deemed necessary to stop the spread of infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile, which have killed hundreds.

Hygiene experts said last night that no exceptions should be made on religious grounds. Dr Mark Enright, professor of microbiology at Imperial College London, said: To wash your hands properly, and reduce the risks of MRSA and C.difficile, you have to be able to wash the whole area around the wrist. I don't think it would be right to make an exemption for people on any grounds. The policy of bare below the elbows has to be applied universally.

Dr Charles Tannock, a Conservative MEP and former hospital consultant, added: These students are being trained using taxpayers' money and they have a duty of care to their patients not to put their health at risk. Perhaps these women should not be choosing medicine as a career if they feel unable to abide by the guidelines that everyone else has to follow.

But the Islamic Medical Association insisted that covering all the body in public, except the face and hands, was a basic tenet of Islam. No practising Muslim woman - doctor, medical student, nurse or patient - should be forced to bare her arms below the elbow.

A Muslim woman has quit her job after she refused to roll up her sleeves as part of the NHS 'bare below the elbows' policy.

The radiographer is quoted in the national press as saying she felt that uncovering her arms compromised her faith by contradicting the Islamic dress code for women.

The Department of Health guidance, issued last year, states that all staff must bare their forearms as part of a hygiene initiative to combat superbugs.

According to the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, where the woman worked, she originally complied with the ruling for seven weeks and only recently raised the issue.

The trust denied that the radiographer was forced out and defended its policies. Clare Edmonson, director of human resources, said: The policy was explained to her when she began working for the trust and must be observed by all staff for safety reasons.

Female Muslim doctors and nurses are to be allowed to wear disposable sleeves in order to comply with NHS rules to prevent the spread of hospital superbugs.

All staff involved in caring for patients should be bare below the elbows to ensure sleeves do not become contaminated and hands can be washed thoroughly to prevent infections passed around the ward.

However female Muslim staff had been concerned about the rule as exposure of their forearms is seen as immodest.

New guidance from the Department of Health said that using alcohol gel to cleanse hands between treating patients does not contravene strict Muslim rules on alcohol.

If Muslim women wish to cover their forearms during direct patient care they can wear disposable sleeves which are elasticated at the wrist and elbow but washing of hands and wrists should still be observed.

The guidance was drawn up following meetings between the Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the NHS group and Islamic scholars, chaplains, multi-faith representatives and infection control experts.

The General Medical Council has said that female Muslim doctors must be prepared to remove their veil to treat patients effectively as religious clothing must not be a barrier to good care. The guidelines say women can wear the hijab which covers the head and hair but not the face.