MRSA ruled out

MRSA ruled out in death of Kiltimagh woman


Anton McNulty

A SENIOR pathologist ruled out MRSA as a possible accelerant in the death of an 81-year-old Kiltimagh woman who died in Mayo General Hospital, where she was admitted after suffering a fall.
Dr Fadel Bennani, Consultant Pathologist, was giving evidence at the inquest of Mrs Nora Sullivan of Chapel Street, Kiltimagh, who died on Auguat 25 last. Mrs Sullivan was admitted to Mayo General Hospital on August 19 after suffering a fall while she was a patient at Swinford District Hospital. While she was in Mayo General, her condition deteriorated but Dr Bennani, who carried out the post-mortem, explained that she proved negative for MRSA.
Nurse Catherine Burke, who works in the Swinford District Hospital, said that at 3.30am on August 19, she saw Mrs Sullivan walk to the toilet but a minute later she fell. She was brought to her bed with a pain in her leg and after examination she was transferred to Mayo General Hospital. She said she was low risk on that fall risk assessment.
An x-ray on her leg showed she had a fracture to the left femur but was unable to undergo an operation for her injury because of poor health.
Mrs Annie May Kelly, sister of the deceased, said that Mrs Sullivan had an irregular heartbeat, arthritis, anaemia and used to get very bad chest infections. She added that while in intensive care in Castlebar, Nora was only semi-conscious while she was there.
When asked by Mr John O’Dwyer, Coroner for South Mayo, if she was satisfied with the care her sister received at Mayo General, Mrs Kelly said she was satisfied everything was done for her sister and she was well looked after.
Dr Bennani told the inquest that fresh thrombo-embolism was confirmed on the right lung but a swap from the right lung for culture proved negative for MRSA and other pathogens. He said the cause of death in his opinion was due to acute respiratory failure due to pulmonary thrombo-embolism.
Mr O’Dwyer recorded a verdict of death due to natural causes and extended his sympathy to Mrs Sullivan’s family. His sympathies were echoed by Inspector Mick Murray.