Conor Keane died on January 9th, 2025, at the age of 87. He made major contributions to our understanding of hospital-acquired infections nationally and internationally, and especially those due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Conor was one of three children born to Prof John Keane and Maura Loughran. He spent summer holidays in Camolin, Co Wexford, with his uncle, a GP, who had a great influence on him. Conor attended St Mary’s College, Rathmines, and then Clongowes Wood College where he made many lifelong friends. There he developed a great interest in rugby, which provided much enjoyment throughout his life.
Conor attended medical school at UCD and after non-consultant hospital doctor posts in Dublin and London, he returned to Dublin in 1971 as consultant microbiologist. In 1974, he was appointed associate professor/consultant at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Following the centralisation of pathology services for the Federated Dublin Voluntary Hospitals with that of St James’s Hospital (SJH) Dublin, he was appointed consultant microbiologist there in 1981.
From a clinical base at SJH and his appointment with TCD, Conor forged strong collaborative research links with the Moyne Institute and the Dublin Dental Hospital Microbiology Unit at TCD to harness the rapidly advancing technologies of molecular microbiology and combine this with clinical observations, surveillance and epidemiology to combat hospital infections.
Conor was a regular contributor to the international scientific literature for over 40 years, ranging from MRSA to Helicobacter pylori and peptic ulcer disease. Conor was much sought after as a mentor and supervisor for students pursuing higher degrees in medicine, medical laboratory science, nursing and other sciences.
In the early 1980s, Conor and collaborators secured major research funding on MRSA from the Medical Research Council. This defined the extent of the problem, the clinical impact, and for the first time, characterised the dominant strains responsible and highlighted the importance of travel in the spread of MRSA nationally and internationally.
Conor made significant contributions to the evolution and development of SJH from the 1980s onwards. With senior laboratory scientists he consolidated laboratory diagnostics in the Central Pathology Laboratory at SJH, with the other disciplines of pathology. His contributions were critical to the funding and establishment of the National MRSA Reference Laboratory and the Irish Mycobacteria (TB) Reference Laboratories at SJH. This resulted in one of the most advanced hospital laboratories in the country, and which developed pioneering new techniques. Conor led the clinical microbiology service, especially in important patient groups such as those in intensive care, stem cell transplantation, and haematology/oncology units.
Outside of work, Conor enjoyed spending as much time as possible with his family, especially on holidays in Ireland. With friends, family and colleagues, he was always great company, with a sense of humour, accompanied by his wonderful, hearty laugh.
After retirement in 2002, he had more time to devote to his outside interests that included rugby; he was an enthusiastic Leinster and Ireland supporter. He was a keen gardener and he was on the committee of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland, until he died.
He is survived by his wife, Romney, sons Marcus and David, daughter Sinéad, sister Bernadette, brother- and daughters in-law, much loved grandchildren, many close friends, and former colleagues.
