Are You a Victim of a Hospital-Acquired Infection?

When you are hospitalized, you may acquire one or more infections in the hospital, making you more ill than you were initially. Hospital-acquired infections are more common than most people think and could be grounds for a medical malpractice case.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Hospital-acquired or hospital-associated infections (HAIs) are infections you acquire while receiving treatment for other health conditions. Approximately 1 out of every 25 hospitalized patients will be treated for an HAI at some point during their illness.

Some infections can be severe because they are resistant to antibiotics, and still others can be fatal. Approximately 75,000 hospitalized people died with an HAI in 2011. 

Some may believe that you must have surgery to contract an HAI, but this is not true. Infection-causing bacteria can enter your body through your skin or enter your blood through a central line or a central catheter. 

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

MRSA is one of the deadliest types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria you are at risk of being exposed to during your hospital stay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there were approximately 80,000 cases of MRSA in the US alone that killed around 11,000 people in 2011. 

MRSA is most commonly contracted through skin-to-skin contact and spread through shared equipment and supplies. You are at higher risk of contracting MRSA when you have had surgery or had medical devices such as catheters or central lines inserted in your body.

Symptoms of MRSA are often dependent on what part of your body is affected. Common symptoms include a bump or area that is:

• Red
• Painful
• Warm
• Draining

A fever may also accompany these symptoms. The site of the infection can sometimes resemble a spider bite. Proper diagnosis only takes place through medical tests. MRSA can lead to other bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, pneumonia, and sepsis if left untreated. 

Clostridium Difficile Infections (C. Diff)

C. diff is another infection your hospitalization can expose you to, although it can affect anyone who has been taking antibiotics. C. diff causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of your colon. According to the National Conference of State Legistlatures, the CDC estimates there are approximately 500,000 cases in the U.S. annually. 

People over the age of 65, those with weakened immune systems, and those who have had a previous C. diff infection are at higher risk. Although C. diff in most people is mild or moderate, severe conditions kill one in 11 people over the age of 65 within a month. 

C. diff is contagious and spreads from patient to patient due to poor cleaning or sanitizing within the hospital, unwashed hands, or shared equipment. The germs lay dormant on surfaces. Multiple room surfaces can spread infections, including bedrails, toilets and sinks, telephones, remote controls, and almost anything else in your hospital room.

Symptoms of mild and moderate cases of C. diff include:

• Watery diarrhea multiple times per day
• Distinct smell
• Abdominal cramping
• Abdominal tenderness

Severe cases may also include:

• Dehydration
• Fever
• Nausea
• Kidney failure
• Weight loss
• Elevated white blood count
• Blood or pus in the stool

Any of the latter symptoms will require immediate medical attention. Severe C. diff infections can also lead to sepsis. This life-threatening condition is your body's response to infection that triggers chain reactions throughout your body. If not treated quickly, sepsis leads to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death.

Unfortunately, hospitals are full of deadly germs. Poor cleaning regimes, poor hand hygiene, or a failure to implement automated disinfection technologies can put you at risk of contracting hospital-acquired infections and more.

If you have contracted a hospital-acquired infection due to the negligence of your hospital, contact Wegner & Associates. With over 40 years of experience, we have the skills and knowledge to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Give us a call for a free evaluation of your case.