Baby youngest UK victim of MRSA, inquest hears

Britain: A British hospital was last night under fire after staff failed to spot sickness warning signs in a baby killed by …

Britain:A British hospital was last night under fire after staff failed to spot sickness warning signs in a baby killed by the superbug MRSA 36 hours after being born.

Doctors at the hospital in Ipswich, Suffolk failed to properly co-ordinate the care of Luke Day - thought to be Britain's youngest MRSA victim, an inquest heard.

Coroner Peter Dean said there was evidence that Luke was showing signs of illness 20 hours after he was born and alarm bells should have rung.

The baby had "grunted" and his temperature and blood-sugar levels had fallen.

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Luke's family, from Woodbridge, Suffolk, said they would consider legal action against the hospital.

Microbiologists said Luke died as a result of an infection. A pathologist found traces of MRSA in the baby's organs, but experts could not be certain that MRSA killed Luke, the hearing in Ipswich was told. Dr Dean concluded that Luke had died of MRSA. The source of the MRSA remained a mystery.

- (PA)