THE MRSA superbug played a "significant part" in the death of a retired manager, but the source of the infection was impossible to detect, an inquest heard.

Tony Hopper, 64, of Holtby, near York, died at York Hospital on July 30, 2004, from septicaemia due to MRSA, due to insulin-dependent Type II diabetes.

The retired Railtrack manager had diabetes for more than 30 years, suffered from vascular disease and also had ulcers.

The inquest, held at New Earswick Folk Hall, heard that Mr Hopper underwent a below-the-knee amputation at the Nuffield Purey Cust Hospital in January 2004, had attended a number of hospital sites, including York Hospital and several clinics, and had been in contact with a number of health care professionals.

Alistair McCleary, a consultant vascular surgeon, told the inquest that Mr Hopper did not have MRSA at the time of discharge from the Purey Cust on January 26, 2004, following the amputation. Further swabs did not reveal any infection until the end of March that year.

Mr Hopper was then admitted to York Hospital and the infection appeared to have cleared.

He was readmitted in June after a suspected insect bite on his hand. A spinal abscess was diagnosed, MRSA was identified on June 24 and he was given antibiotics.

Mr Hopper's condition deteriorated over the next few weeks and he was unable to get over his MRSA infection. He was kept comfortable by staff and died on July 30.

York coroner Donald Coverdale said Mr Hopper "clearly had an unhappy progress through his final illness".

He said: "It's impossible to say accurately where MRSA was acquired. We can't be sure that it was totally cleared up following that first admission to York Hospital after the amputation, or whether it was hidden.

"His condition of diabetes did make him more prone to infection than others."

He recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

After the inquest the medical director of York Hospitals NHS Trust, Mike Porte, said: "All our staff have co-operated with the coroner during his inquiries and we fully accept his verdict of death through natural causes.

"We know that seriously ill patients with other chronic conditions are at greater risk of acquiring MRSA and other infections, and this is why we regularly screen patients for MRSA and take the necessary action.

"The trust is committed to improving all our standards and will continue to drive down our MRSA infection rates."

Updated: 11:39 Friday, July 01, 2005