Dirty needle led to infection

10:57pm Monday 28th May 2007

A CORONER issued a warning to drug users after an inquest into the death of a 35-year-old heroin addict.

The inquest heard Tracey Duffy, of Carter Street, Accrington, developed a large infected ulcer in her groin as a result of injecting herself with a dirty needle.

Tiny infected particles entered her blood and then developed in the lungs causing a septic infection which caused damage to a large blood vessel.

This eventually ruptured, causing bleeding into the lung and eventually death, the inquest was told.

Coroner Michael Singleton said: "She must have suffered a terrible death as her lungs became so damaged.

"It demonstrates how hazardous drug use can become and not just in terms of overdoses."

The inquest heard Ms Duffy had been injecting heroin for a number of years. She had developed an ulcer 18 months ago and spent two and a half months in hospital at that time.

Dr Baharam Azaden, consultant pathologist at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, told the inquest the large infected ulcer extended from Miss Duffy's left groin into her left thigh.

He explained the sequence of events which led to the infection spreading to the lungs and the eventual damage to the large blood vessel.

His post-mortem examination showed two-and-a-half litres of blood in the left chest cavity.

"Both lungs were extensively and irreversibly damaged as a result of severe bronchopneumonia," said Dr Azaden.

He gave the medical cause of death as bleeding in the pleural cavity and necrosising pneumonia with intravenous drug use a factor.

Mr Singleton recorded a narrative verdict which reflected the events which led to Miss Duffy's death.