THE DUBLIN county coroner is to write to all hospitals in his area requesting them to test for individual strains of the hospital superbug Clostridium difficile (C diff), including a particularly virulent strain known as 027.
Dr Kieran Geraghty made the announcement at an inquest into the death of Lewis Frazer (54), Drumnacoille Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin, who died from an aggressive form of C diff at Tallaght hospital on December 13, 2007.
The court heard that the strain of C diff that caused Mr Frazer's death was not identified as it is not routine procedure in the hospital lab to test for particular strains because the treatment is the same for all types.
It is not standard procedure in most hospitals to test for particular strains of the superbug, the inquest heard.
Mr Frazer, who was being treated for Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, was admitted to the hospital under the psychiatric services in April 2005.
Mr Frazer had ongoing problems with mobility. In September 2007 he became very unwell, requiring transfer to the intensive care unit. A rapid deterioration in his health followed due to chest infections and multiple small clots in his lungs.
Over the next three months, mobility continued to be a problem and he was at risk of infection because of this.
His use of a urinary catheter and the development of pressure sores also increased his risk of infection.
His condition deteriorated in October 2007 and he became extremely unwell with a scope on December 12th revealing extensive damage to his bowel.
He died the following day.
A post-mortem found he died of pseudomembranous colitis due to C diff infection.
He also had septicaemia.
Dr Geraghty recorded a verdict of death by hospital-acquired infection.
"I'm going to write to all hospitals in my area requesting they test for particular strains. It's important to establish the strain involved," he said.