From Staph to MRSA: Explaining Hospital-Associated Infections (HAI)

Most people go to the hospital with the understanding that even though it may be unpleasant, they’re there to get better. But an astonishing number of patients who have overnight stays in hospital facilities end up leaving with a hospital-associated infection, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a significant percentage of those people will actually die as a result. Though infection control is an issue that many facilities work hard to address, in far too many cases, these infections are a result of medical negligence.

Though there are many different forms of bacteria that are commonly found in hospitals, the one that is causing the biggest problem is a form of staph infection known as MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. MRSA is particularly dangerous for two reasons:

1. Its resistance to most antibiotics means that it can lead to life-threatening illnesses, particularly in patients who are compromised.
2. The fact that it does not respond to standard antibiotics can lead physicians to believe that the patient does not have an infection, thus delaying appropriate treatment.

Not every hospital-associated infection (HAI) leads to serious injury, nor does diagnosis with MRSA necessarily mean that medical negligence has taken place. But if you have suffered a serious injury or incurred significant medical expenses as a result of having been infected with MRSA, it is strongly suggested that you have your situation evaluated by an experienced medical negligence attorney, who can help to determine whether you are the victim of carelessness or some other failure in the standard-of-care.

Examples would include:

• Failure on the part of the facility to warn of the risk of infection.
• Failure to respond in an appropriate or reasonable manner to the possibility of a MRSA infection, thus resulting in harm.
• Failure to protect against the risk of MRSA during a surgical procedure by allowing debris to contact the wound, failing to follow proper sterilization or disinfection protocol, or failure to provide prophylactic antibiotics.

As experienced medical negligence professionals, we will review the details of your case and consult with experts in the field of hospital-acquired infection to determine whether the care you received was careless or substandard. Those who have been the victims of negligence are entitled to compensation for the damages they’ve incurred, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more about your options, contact us today.