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Jackson Hospital Infection Attorney
Hospital-Acquired Infections & Diseases
Hospital infections, also known as hospital-acquired infections or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), occur when a patient contracts an infection during an inpatient procedure or hospital stay. Hospitals and hospital staff have a responsibility to ensure that patients are not unnecessarily exposed to contagious diseases or preventable infections while under their care. When they fail to take the proper measures to keep patients safe, hospitals and their staff can be held accountable.
If you believe you have a medical malpractice claim for an HAI, we invite you to contact our Jackson hospital infection attorneys at ‘MAGGIO LAW. Our firm has extensive experience representing victims of hospital negligence and has recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for our clients. We are ready to fight for you and your recovery.
Call (601) 265-6869 or contact us online to set up a free initial consultation with our team today.
What Is a Hospital Infection?
Hospital infections are referred to by many names, including hospital-acquired infections, healthcare-associated infections, and nosocomial infections. Regardless of what you call it, a hospital infection can lead to serious implications, including severe bodily injury, life-threatening complications, and death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a hospital infection is one that is “contracted because of an infection or toxin that exists in a certain location, such as a hospital.” The CDC further notes that approximately 10% of people admitted to the hospital acquire a nosocomial infection. While emergency rooms and intensive care units are the most common locations for these infections to occur, a patient in any ward of a hospital may be at risk.
Some of the most common hospital-acquired infections include:
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Central line-associated bloodstream infections
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Surgical site and surgery-related infections
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Ear, eye, nose, throat, and mouth infections
- Skin/soft tissue infections
Other less-common hospital infections include bone and joint infections, cardiovascular system infections, central nervous system infections, reproductive tract infections, and systemic infections.
How Do Hospital Infections Happen?
Medically speaking, most hospital-acquired infections occur due to exposure to bacteria. The CDC reports that bacteria are responsible for about 90% of all nosocomial infections, but viruses, fungus, and other harmful toxins can also cause infections in a variety of hospital settings.
Hospital staff is responsible for stopping the spread of disease and preventing infections. Often, hospital-acquired infections can be attributed to negligence.
Examples of this include:
- Failure to sterilize medical equipment, such as catheters or surgical instruments
- Failure to properly quarantine patients with infectious diseases
- Unclean and/or unsanitary hospital environments
- Improper or lack of hand hygiene (washing hands before and after treating patients)
- Excessive and/or improper use of antibiotics, leading to antibiotic-resistant bacteria
- Improper treatment/failure to treat
- Improper or missing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Poor ventilation
- Improper aseptic insertion
- Improper or unnecessary catheter use/failure to change catheters or catheter bags
Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other medical providers may also be considered negligent when they fail to promptly diagnose a hospital-acquired infection. This can have serious consequences for the patient, as, without a proper diagnosis, they cannot receive the critical care they need.
Why You Need a Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you believe that you or your loved one developed an infection in the hospital due to a medical provider’s negligence, it is important that you contact an experienced attorney right away. Like all medical malpractice cases, those involving hospital-acquired infections are extremely complex and challenging to prove. An attorney can help you gather the appropriate evidence to show that your infection occurred due to a hospital or medical provider’s negligence or misconduct. Your attorney can stand up to the insurance company on your behalf, advocating for you and the maximum recovery you are owed.
Many medical malpractice cases proceed to litigation. When this occurs, a Jackson hospital infection attorney from ‘MAGGIO LAW can help you prepare for trial. Our team offers compassionate, client-focused support and aggressive advocacy for the injured. We understand the difficulties present in these types of cases—and we know how to win the compensation our clients need to heal.
Schedule a Free Consultation Today
There are no costs and no risks when you talk to our attorneys about your potential case. We provide all our legal services on a contingency fee basis, so you do not owe anything unless we recover compensation for you.
Give us a call at (601) 265-6869 or submit a free online case evaluation form to get started.
