A consultant respiratory physician at a Dublin hospital has warned of a new virulent strain of the hospital-acquired bug clostridium difficile, which is fatal for one in 12 patients who contract it.
The 027 strain of C difficile, which has been "noted" in Irish hospitals in the past six months, is more toxic than other strains of the infection, Dr Tim McDonnell of St Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, told Dublin County Coroner's Court yesterday.
He was giving evidence at inquests into the deaths of five patients who contracted either MRSA or C difficile while they were in hospital, and later died.
"There have been cases of it in St Michael's and St Vincent's hospitals. C difficile is a particular problem as hand-washing is not effective in preventing it. You've got to be meticulously clean and it's a huge focus in hospitals," Dr McDonnell said.
He said that anyone was susceptible to the infection, including young, healthy individuals, adding that a number of years ago, one of his own registrars contracted the strain.
The coroner's court heard yesterday that the deaths of Christopher Lawlor from Clondalkin and Sarah Leonard from Killiney were related to MRSA infection.
Consultant microbiologist at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Dr Anne Gilleese, told an inquest into the death of Mr Lawlor (76), Castlegrange Lawn, Clondalkin, that he had picked up the MRSA infection while a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the hospital.
Mr Lawlor, who was admitted to the hospital on March 28th last with a range of medical problems including cardiac problems, type 2 diabetes and obstructive airway disease, was admitted to ICU on April 3rd. He was discharged back to the ward three days later. He died on April 13th.
Dr Gilleese said she believed Mr Lawlor picked up the infection in ICU as he did not have the condition upon entering ICU the first time. Despite having MRSA, Mr Lawlor was admitted to the main ICU unit the second time and not put in isolation because there was no isolation room for him, the court heard.
Sarah Leonard, Bayview Drive, Killiney, Co Dublin, died at St Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, on February 7th last from bronchiectasis with MRSA infection, the court heard.The coroner returned a verdict of hospital-acquired infection in the cases of both Mr Lawlor and Mrs Leonard.
The Coroner's Court heard a further three cases where patients had picked up hospital-acquired infections that had contributed to their deaths.
Patrick Dwyers (76), Drumcairn Park, Tallaght, died at Tallaght hospital on July 3rd from bronchial pneumonia on a background of MRSA in his sputum.
Sheila Hyland (86), Fortfield Square, Terenure, died on June 28th from aspirational pneumonia with C difficile as a contributory cause, while Mary O'Connell (82), Shandon Park, Monkstown, died at St Michael's Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, on June 22nd from obstructive pneumonia with C difficile as a minor contributory cause. She also had lung cancer.
Hospital manager at St Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, Tom Mernagh, told the court that HSE funding is to be made available to allow the appointment of a consultant microbiologist at the hospital. He was responding to concerns raised by Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty of a far greater incidence of MRSA and C difficile infections at the Loughlinstown hospital in comparison to the rates in the other hospitals under his jurisdiction.