Coroner seeks action over superbug deaths

The Dublin County Coroner is reportedly calling for urgent action to prevent further superbug related deaths at a hospital in south Co Dublin.

Reports this morning say the call follows the deaths of 16 people with hospital acquired infections at St Colmcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown over a seven-month period last year.

All 16 patients had contracted either MRSA or Clostridium difficile.

The infections have been cited as the direct cause of death in half the cases and a contributory factor in the others.

Reports this morning say the coroner has reportedly vowed to write to the HSE seeking the early appointment of a microbiologist at the hospital in an effort to address the problem.