The Dublin City Coroner is to write to the Health Service Executive (HSE) asking that it reviews how hospitals share information in relation to MRSA following a "breakdown in communication" between Dublin's Mater public and private hospitals.
It emerged at an inquest yesterday that the Mater private was unaware that a patient had tested positive for MRSA a week previously as an outpatient at the public hospital.
The patient was subsequently released from the Mater private with MRSA, which worsened to septicemia and he died within weeks.
Thomas Murdiff (53), a former Evening Herald sports editor, Butterfield Grove, Athboy, Co Meath, had an elective toe amputation at the Mater private on November 26th, 2004.
He had tested positive a week previously for MRSA at the Mater public diabetic day care centre but this information was not added to his file.
Following a few days in hospital after the amputation, Mr Murdiff was released but a week later was taken to Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, Co Meath, where he tested positive for MRSA septicemia. He died on his day of transfer back to the Mater, on December 14th, 2004.
"I propose to contact the HSE in relation to Mr Murdiff's death and specifically in relation to a review of sharing of information between hospitals in relation to MRSA infection," coroner Dr Brian Farrell told Dublin City Coroner's Court.
Dr Farrell said Mr Murdiff "was positive for MRSA" at the Mater private and "obviously there was a breakdown in communication".
He said Mr Murdiff fitted the criteria of a patient who acquired MRSA in a hospital setting.