Two new mums who died with herpes ‘most likely exposed to it during Caesareans’

Kimberley Sampson, 29, (left) and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, (right) died weeks apart in 2018 (Picture: PA/Facebook)

Two new mums who died with herpes were ‘most likely’ exposed to the infection during their Caesarean section surgeries, a sexual health expert has told an inquest. 

Kimberley Sampson, 29, and Samantha Mulcahy, 32, died weeks apart in 2018 at hospitals run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust (EKHUT). 

The same obstetrician conducted their Caesareans, the inquest has heard. The court has heard the chances of the women having picked up the virus before admission was ‘vanishingly small’. 

Peter Greenhouse, a sexual health consultant with expertise in gynaecology and sexually transmitted infections in women, said: ‘Exposure at the time of surgery is unquestionably the most likely explanation.’ 

Giving evidence via a video link on Thursday in the inquest in Maidstone, Kent, he said the medical evidence shows that the chances of infection coming from a ‘common source’ is ‘very high’. 

He insisted that there is no ‘biologically plausible explanation’ as to how Ms Sampson and Ms Mulcahy might have been infected in the community prior to admission to hospital. 

The inquest has been told of two theories which could indicate that the doctor who conducted both women’s surgeries, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was a potential source of infection. 

Ms Sampson died after her baby boy – her second child – was delivered at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent

Ms Mulcahy died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, in July 2018

The first theory indicates there could have been a droplet infection at the time of the surgery. 

Another theory, one supported by Mr Greenhouse, suggests the infection could have come from a whitlow, which is a herpes infection of the finger. 

The expert was told the surgeon gave evidence saying 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 nor 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’. 

‘Double gloving and absence of a history of a whitlow does not prevent a covert whitlow having been the source,’ Mr Greenhouse went on.  

‘It may reduce the possibility somewhat but it does not remove the possibility.’ 

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Referencing maternity data, the expert told 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’. 

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 inquest continues. 

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Kimberley Sampson and Samantha Mulcahy died weeks apart in 2018 at hospitals run by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust (EKHUT).