A PENSIONER who survived a major heart operation died three weeks later after being struck down with a superbug described as the most virulent seen in two decades.

Philip Hepden, 76, of Wychwood Drive, Milton-under-Wychwood, went to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, in June last year for a heart bypass operation and to have a replacement heart valve fitted.

Only 22 days after successful surgery he died from an ultra-resistant strain of superbug MRSA, an inquest into his death held at Oxford Coroner's Court heard this week.

The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust said deaths from MRSA were rare. It estimated that only one heart patient dies per year from the bug in its hospitals.

Professor Stephen Westaby, consultant cardiac surgeon at the John Radcliffe said: "He was doing fine and came off the breathing machine and went down to the ward. At that stage everybody felt this was an entirely routine post-operative course.

"The trigger was the bug which came from somewhere - and I don't think we will ever know for sure where it came from. Every time we got him particularly better, but the organism eventually won.

"It is an extremely rare problem. It is the only time in 20 years at the JR I have seen an organism as virulent as that which we couldn't overcome."

Professor Westaby added if there had been an 'outbreak' of MRSA at the Cardiac Recovery Unit, more deaths would have been reported.

Latest available figures - for September 2005 to March 2006 - show that MRSA infection rates at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust are rising.

Notes by Dr Quentin Ainsworth, read to the inquest, revealed tests found MRSA in Mr Hepden's blood five days after the operation.

Doctors prescribed antibiotics to treat the superbug but by June 30 the situation was described as "hopeless".

Delivering a narrative verdict, Coroner Nicholas Gardiner said Mr Hepden died on July 1 from multiple organ failure following heart surgery that led to MRSA infection.

Dr Derrick Cook, consultant microbiologist at the JR, said: "Around day 18 there was a growing realisation the antibiotics used probably weren't doing enough. When you reach that stage any other antibiotics are unlikely to make a difference."

Drugs used to tackle the superbug work in more than 90 per cent of patients, Dr Cook added.

Forensic pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt told the inquest that traces of the MRSA were discovered at an incision on his chest.

After the inquest his widow, Phyllis, said: "There are things we never knew about his death until now, but this has closed it for us. The nurses all looked after him so much and we are pleased with how they looked after him."