An idiosyncratic reaction to a commonly prescribed antibiotic probably caused the death of a Co Clare man, a Dublin city inquest was told yesterday. Mr John Corey (68) of Loughville, Ennis, died on September 16th last at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, of bronchial pneumonia secondary to liver failure, the court was told.
A pathologist, Dr Tom Crotty, who carried out the post-mortem examination, said the liver failure probably was related to the antibiotic Augmentin, which was prescribed to Mr Corey by his family doctor a month earlier to treat a respiratory tract infection. Mr Corey went to his doctor because he had a persistent cough but within days of beginning the treatment his general condition worsened and he became jaundiced.
He was admitted first to Ennis Hospital, then to Limerick Regional Hospital and finally to St Vincent's.
Dr Crotty said searches of the medical literature showed rare reports of acute reactions to Augmentin.
Other known causes of the liver failure had been ruled out and he had to conclude that the death probably was related to the antibiotic. However, he could not totally rule out some new form of virus. He stressed that the reaction was "very atypical" and so was described as "idiosyncratic". Augmentin was a very used antibiotic and most reported side effects were short term.
The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure and the Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said he would bring the findings of the inquest to the attention of the Irish Medicines Board.