Whether you’re in a healthcare clinic, hospital room, operating room, or intensive care unit, patient safety should be the highest priority. Unfortunately, some healthcare clinics fail to protect their patients from contracting infections while within their care, causing them to suffer from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
For patients, HAIs can lead to prolonged hospital stays, additional medical expenses, and serious health complications. If you or a loved one has experienced an HAI and you believe it resulted from substandard medical care, contact a Michigan medical malpractice lawyer at Lipton Law today.
Our experienced attorneys are prepared to help victims of HAIs recover compensation for the losses they suffered as a result of their infection. Call (248) 557-1688 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys regarding your case.
What to Know About Healthcare-Associated Infections
There are a few things you should know about healthcare-associated infections in order to better understand what they are and how dangerous they can be. An infection is the invasion and multiplication of harmful microorganisms in the body, like bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Most people acquire infections at home or out in the community.
In hospitals and other healthcare settings, staff put a variety of infection control measures in place to prevent infections from spreading from patient to patient. However, not all healthcare professionals adhere to these measures, which could lead patients to contract various infections while in the hospital or healthcare facility.
According to healthcare research conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 1 in 31 inpatients have a healthcare-associated infection at any given time. This is often due to factors like close proximity to other sick patients, invasive procedures that could introduce pathogens into the body, and/or frequent contact with healthcare personnel.
What Are Hospital-Acquired Infections?
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are infections patients acquire while receiving treatment in a healthcare setting. These infections can occur in hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. Factors contributing to HAIs include improper sanitation, inadequate hand hygiene, and the overuse of antibiotics.
Patients who experience an HAI may face prolonged hospital stays, additional medical expenses, and significant health complications. HAIs also contribute to significant morbidity in elder care settings, like nursing homes. If these infections are the result of healthcare provider negligence, then patients with these infections may be able to sue the hospital for medical malpractice.
Nosocomial Infections
Nosocomial infections are the same as healthcare-associated infections: they are infections that patients can contract in healthcare or hospital settings. You can use the terms “nosocomial infection” and “healthcare-acquired infection” interchangeably.
What Infections Are Considered Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs)?
There are a number of different infectious diseases that are common in healthcare settings, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, surgical site infections, catheter-associated UTIs, central line infections, and more.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Ventilator-associated pneumonia occurs in patients who use mechanical ventilation to breathe properly. This kind of nosocomial pneumonia is often the result of improper sterilization or handling of ventilator equipment. Patients can also suffer from hospital-acquired pneumonia as a result of contact with medical professionals, who may pass germs to patients from their hands or clothes.
Surgical Site Infections
A surgical site infection is an infection that occurs in the area where the patient recently had surgery. When the tissues of the body are exposed during and after surgery, the patient becomes vulnerable to infection. If surgeons fail to comply with infection control procedures, and the patient suffers from an infection near their surgical site, the patient may be able to sue for surgical malpractice.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common HAIs that typically occur in patients with urinary catheters. These infections can develop when bacteria enter the urinary tract via the catheter, often due to improper insertion or maintenance. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections can lead to discomfort, fever, and, if untreated, more severe kidney infections or sepsis.
Bloodstream Infections
Bloodstream infections occur when bacteria or other pathogens enter the blood, often through medical procedures or devices such as intravenous (IV) lines. Patients can also suffer from a bloodstream infection as a result of contracting hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This is another common hospital-associated infection.
These infections can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you or a loved one has contracted sepsis in a healthcare setting, you may have grounds to file a sepsis lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses.
Central Line Infections
Central line-associated bloodstream infections are a specific type of bloodstream infection. They occur when bacteria or viruses enter the bloodstream through a central line catheter. A central line is a tube placed in a large vein to deliver medication or fluids over an extended period. In a healthcare facility, a patient may suffer from a central line infection if their central line is improperly inserted, maintained, or used.
What Is the Most Common Hospital-Acquired Infection?
It’s hard to say what the most common hospital-acquired infection is. According to the Centers for Disease Control, some of the most common include urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bloodstream infections like bacteremia.
When Do HAIs Generally Occur?
Hospital-acquired infections generally occur within 48 hours of hospital admission. They can also develop after procedures involving medical devices such as catheters or ventilators, or post-surgery at the site of the incision.
How Do Hospitals Prevent HAIs?
Hospitals and other health care facilities prevent hospital-acquired infections through rigorous infection control practices. These include strict hand hygiene protocols, proper sterilization of medical instruments, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Additionally, hospitals often implement infection prevention guidelines surrounding the use and maintenance of medical devices like catheters and ventilators. Regular staff training, environmental cleaning, and surveillance of infection rates are also crucial components in reducing the risk of HAIs.
These precautions are taken throughout various parts of the hospital, especially in intensive care units and surgical units.
Can You Sue a Hospital for an Infection?
Yes, you can sue a hospital for an infection if you can prove that the infection resulted from negligence or substandard care. To sue a hospital for negligence, you must demonstrate that the hospital failed to follow proper infection control practices or provided inadequate medical treatment, directly leading to the infection.
Successful claims often require evidence of the hospital’s negligence, expert testimony, and documentation of the harm caused by the infection. A hospital negligence lawyer can help determine the strength of your case and guide you through the legal process.
Additionally, if a missed or delayed diagnosis of the infection caused you or your loved one to suffer from severe injury or resulted in the death of your loved one, a failure to diagnose lawyer can help you hold the negligent healthcare workers responsible for your losses.
When Are HAIs Considered Medical Malpractice?
HAIs are considered medical malpractice when it can be shown that the infection resulted from a healthcare provider’s negligence or failure to meet the standard of care expected in similar circumstances. This medical or nursing negligence could involve improper sanitation practices, inadequate infection control measures, or misuse of medical equipment.
How to Prove Negligence in Lawsuits for Health Care-Associated Infections
In an HAI lawsuit, the victim must first prove that health care staff or the health care system as a whole owed the victim a duty of care. A duty of care is a responsibility to provide the patient with a reasonable and expected level of care.
From there, there must be evidence that the hospital or provider breached this duty. They could do this through inadequate sanitation, poor hand hygiene, or improper use of medical devices. Lawyers often prove this in court through expert testimony or personal testimony from the victim.
Once established, the victim must then prove that this breach of duty led to their infection. Lastly, the victim must prove that the health care-associated infection caused them measurable harm or damages. This could include evidence of prolonged hospitalization, additional medical expenses, or additional severe health complications. This often comes in the form of medical records.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims in Michigan
In Michigan, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is generally two years from the date of the alleged malpractice or from when the patient should have reasonably discovered the injury. This means that victims of hospital-acquired infections have two years from the date that they contracted their infection, or from the date they were made aware of the infection, before they lose the legal right to file a claim.
File a Hospital-Acquired Infection Lawsuit with Lipton Law Today
If medical professionals caused you or a loved one to suffer from a hospital-acquired or nosocomial infection, you may receive compensation for your injuries and losses. At Lipton Law, we understand the devastating impact that HAIs can have on patients and their families.
Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys in Southfield, MI, help individuals seek justice. We want to help you recover fair compensation for injuries caused by negligent healthcare providers. We will conduct a detailed review of your case, consult with medical experts to assess the standard of care provided, and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.
Call our law office at (248) 557-1688 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with an attorney on our team.