HOSPITAL staff missed sickness warning signs in a baby suspected of being the youngest victim of deadly superbug MRSA, an inquest heard today.
Luke Day died aged 36 hours at Ipswich Hospital in February 2005, the inquest in Ipswich was told.
Traces of MRSA were found in the baby's organs but experts disagreed about whether MRSA was the cause of death, the inquest heard.
But coroner Peter Dean said there was evidence that Luke was showing signs of illness 20 hours after being born which should have set off alarm bells.
The inquest came as the Liberal Democrats claimed thousands of patients could be at higher risk of contracting MRSA and other "superbugs" due to hospital overcrowding.
It was reported that 216 trusts in England - about 52% of the total - had bed occupancy rates in excess of 85%, the Government's recommended safety level.
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