Five-day-old baby survives having pacemaker fitted... only to catch MRSA in hospital

While still in the womb, Liam King was diagnosed with a blocked heart.

Five days later he became the youngest in Britain to be fitted with a pacemaker. And then he stopped breathing three times.

Now, his tiny body is engaged in battle again.

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Liam was back in an isolation ward yesterday fighting a hospital superbug.

His parents Andy and Ann were at his bedside desperately hoping that antibiotics will help him beat the MRSA.

Mr King, 26, said: "He is very vulnerable - he's just a couple of months old but he's been through so much."

The couple, of Ebbw Vale in Gwent, South Wales, had been told that Liam would probably not survive more than 15 minutes after birth because of the congenital heart defect.

But the operation at Bristol Children's Hospital proved a success. Liam had a tough time during recovery and had to be revived three times, but was finally well enough to go home.

Then, a fresh problem arose. Mr King, a club DJ, said: "We noticed his scar had become red and inflamed so we mentioned it to our GP. They took a swab but said it was all right for us to take Liam on holiday.

"We had booked a little break because of all the problems we'd had since he was born."

Just two days into the holiday they had a call saying: "Your baby's got MRSA - come home immediately."

Mr King said: "When Liam had the pacemaker fitted the last thing that was on our minds was MRSA.

"You read so much about this bug in hospitals but it was a shock when we were told Liam had MRSA."

The Kings were impressed by hygiene standards in the ward where the pacemaker was fitted and believe he may have picked up the bug during one of many follow-up appointments at other hospitals.

Soon after they arrived home from the holiday, Liam began vomiting and was taken back to Bristol Children's Hospital.

His parents, who also have a oneyearold son, Macaulay, have been told their baby will be kept in for up to six weeks.

Mr King and his wife, 21, were yesterday speaking to their MP to complain about the standards of cleanliness at the hospital where they believe Liam caught the bug.

Gwent Health Trust yesterday declined to comment.

Even after he recovers, Liam will be in and out of hospital. He must have further operations at five, 12 and 21 to replace the pacemaker as he outgrows it.