Woman developed flesh eating disease after injecting heroin

A Co Louth woman developed a flesh eating disease after using a needle to inject heroin, an inquest has heard.

Mary McDonagh (32), from Dundalk, died as medics prepared to operate to remove the infected skin. She was unconscious when rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda on September 9th 2015.

Doctors found Ms McDonagh had a very serious skin infection which they believed to be necrotising faciitis. It is a condition caused by bacteria that can destroy skin, fat and tissue very quickly. It can lead to organ failure and death.

She was transferred to Beaumont Hospital for treatment.

The following morning she was on her way to the operating theatre to remove the infected skin when her heart stopped beating, Dublin Coroner’s Court heard.

Ms McDonagh had injected heroin and the needle caused damage to her vein which then became blocked, causing small clots to travel into her lung, the court heard.

"It is the injection that caused the problem," Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said.

“It’s very sad but it’s something that can happen from using needles.”

The woman’s father, Thomas McDonagh said the family knew she previously had a drug problem and was on a methadone programme.

“She never complained about anything,” he said.

Ms McDonagh had seen her doctor two days before she was hospitalised and a urine sample returned evidence of heroin use.

Dr Cullinane returned a verdict of death by misadventure.