Two mothers who died of herpes ‘most likely’ caught the infection while having C-sections from the same surgeon, expert tells inquest
- Kimberley Sampson, 29, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, died with the virus in 2018
- Sexual health consultant Peter Greenhouse told the inquest the pair were ‘most likely’ infected with the herpes virus during their Caesarean section surgeries
- Surgeon previously said he had taken all precautions and had no history of virus
- But Mr Greenhouse maintained that the herpes virus can be ‘covert’ or ‘hidden’
Two new mothers who died of herpes ‘most likely’ caught the infection during Caesarean section surgeries, an inquest has heard.
Kimberley Sampson, 29, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, died in 2018 after the same obstetrician conducted their surgeries in hospitals run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Mid Kent and Medway Coroners is investigating the deaths of the two women, who both died with herpes shortly after giving birth. Their devastated families have been waiting almost five years for answers.
Peter Greenhouse, a sexual health consultant with expertise in gynaecology and sexually transmitted infections in women, gave evidence via video link in the inquest in Maidstone, Kent, on Thursday.
He said the medical evidence shows the chances of Ms Sampson and Ms Mulcahy’s infections coming from a ‘common source’ is ‘very high’, stating there is no ‘biological plausible explanation’ as to how the two women might have been infected in the community prior to their admission to hospital.
He added that sexual transmission was ‘enormously unlikely’.
Kimberley Sampson, 29, died at the end of May 2018 in hospital in London after delivering her second child earlier that month
First time mother Samantha Mulchay, pictured with her husband Ryan, died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent in July 2018
‘Exposure at the time of surgery is unquestionably the most likely explanation’, he said.
The inquest has heard two theories, which indicate the doctor who conducted both surgeries, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was a potential source of infection.
The first suggested there could have been a droplet infection at the time of the surgery.
The second, which Mr Greenhouse has supported, suggest the infection could have come from a whitlow, a herpes infection of the finger.
Mr Greenhouse was told the surgeon previously gave evidence, stating his hands were fully scrubbed and double gloved, that he was wearing a mask during the procedures, and that he did not have a whitlow or any history of the infection.
Responding to the surgeon’s evidence, Mr Greenhouse said: ‘The absence of any obvious signs or symptoms of herpes anywhere in this person’s history or their own knowledge does not in any way exclude the possibility that they could have been exposed.
‘Five out of six of the people in the courtroom will have been exposed to herpes.’
He added that herpes can be ‘covert’ and ‘hidden’, insisting it is possible to have a ‘covert herpetic whitlow’.
Ms Sampson died in May 2018 after giving birth to a baby boy – her second child – at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent
Ms Mulchay went into labour four weeks ahead of her due date and attended the William Harvey Hospital (pictured) in Ashford, run by the same Trust as Ms Sampson’s hospital
READ MORE: Medical team were not tested for herpes after two women who both had C-sections seven weeks apart died from the virus, inquest hears
‘Double gloving and absence of a history of a whitlow does not prevent a covert whitlow having been the source,’ he added. ‘It may reduce the possibility somewhat but it does not remove the possibility.’
Referencing maternity data, he went onto tell the inquest that the risk of dying from herpes in pregnancy is one in 3.2 million – calling Ms Sampson and Ms Mulcahy’s cases an ‘exceptionally rare and tragic scenario’.
Professor Sebastian Lucas, the pathologist who performed post-mortem examinations on both women, told the inquest the droplet and whitlow hypotheses ‘could’ account for the infection, but said there are ‘other possibilities’ including infection in the community.
He did not believe infection had been sexually transmitted in either patient.
He added that he found it ‘very strange’ that someone could infect two different people 54 days apart.
He recorded the causes of death in both cases as liver and multi-organ failure and ‘disseminated HSV 1 infection’ – herpes – acquired ‘before or around’ the time of delivery.
He also included ‘third trimester pregnancy’ in the causes of death as women can become ‘immunocompromised’ during that time.
‘If they had not been pregnant we would not be here and they would be alive and well’, he added.
Ms Sampson’s baby boy – her second child – was delivered at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, in May 2018. She died at the end of the month in hospital in London.
In July 2018, first-time mother Ms Mulcahy died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent.
The hearing was adjourned to Friday at 10am.
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