Change of drugs a fatal error

A 92-YEAR-OLD man who died after being attacked and bitten by a fellow care home resident may have survived had his antibiotics not been changed by his GP, an inquest heard.

Frederick Adams was bitten on the finger and hit with a shoe by Alfred Baker (73) at Acorn Lodge Care Home, Failsworth in October 2013.

He was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital for treatment and returned to the home later that day.

He was readmitted a week later when the wound became infected. He died on November 8 from blood poisoning and infection.

Mr Adams was prescribed a seven-day course of the antibiotic Co-amoxiclav by the doctor who treated him at hospital on October 22. This was thought the most appropriate form of antibiotic to fight off infection. But following a visit from his GP, Dr Naila Alam, on October 25, Mr Adams stopped taking the drug and began a course of the antibiotic Flucloxacillin, which the GP felt it was most appropriate for someone of his age.

Speaking at the inquest yesterday, Dr Alam said she wasn’t aware Mr Adams was on any form of antibiotic.

The inquest heard a treatment sheet indicated Dr Alam had taken Mr Adams off co-amoxiclav, but she denied doing this.

Dr Alam said she was not completely convinced the wound on Mr Adams’ left hand was caused by a bite and didn’t treat it like one, despite the patient saying he had been bitten.

Dr Stephen Derbyshire, a consultant in accident and emergency medicine at the Royal Oldham Hospital, said changing antibiotics reduced Mr Adams’ chances of survival - the initial antibiotic is recognised as the most effective treatment for such injuries.

The inquest continues.