Sepsis, also known as septicemia, is a serious medical condition that can result in permanent consequences if not managed appropriately. Unfortunately, many Ohio residents and their family members suffer with this very outcome.
If you or someone you love is dealing with the aftermath of sepsis caused by malpractice, you need an accomplished attorney with experience holding medical professionals responsible for their neglect.
Contrary to popular belief, sepsis isn’t an infection itself but rather the body’s response to an infection. The Cleveland Clinic reports that sepsis occurs when the immune system overreacts to an infection and produces more white blood cells than necessary. Ultimately, these “extras” end up attacking internal organs and causing critical tissue damage.
There are three stages of this condition – sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. All are medical emergencies that require immediate intervention. Septic shock is a dangerous drop in blood pressure that prevents organs from getting enough oxygen and can result in death if left untreated.
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The 3 Stages of Sepsis: Symptoms, Treatment, & Prognosis
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that on average, a minimum of 1.7 million adults develop sepsis every year. As many as 350,000 of these individuals die or are released into hospice care. Furthermore, out of every 3 people who die in the hospital, 1 of them had sepsis during that time.
While anyone can contract an infection that leads to sepsis, the majority of cases occur prior to hospitalization and in people who have one or more underlying medical conditions. Of the patients who were hospitalized with sepsis, almost a third of them saw the doctor during the previous week. This makes sepsis and septic shock a major cause of hospitalization and death.
In most cases, sepsis develops after a bacterial infection. However, severe fungal and viral infections can also cause an immune system response that leads to sepsis. Let’s take a look at some of the most common conditions to cause sepsis:
While just about any pathogen can result in septicemia if the infection is severe enough, the most common are these 5 strains of bacteria:
Often, these are hospital-acquired infections (HAI), which means that the patient contracted a preventable secondary infection in a healthcare facility.
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What Causes Sepsis?
Top 5 Causes of Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Sepsis causes serious symptoms that are difficult to overlook. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists the following signs of septicemia to get familiar with:
Symptoms in young children can be a little different and include:
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What Are The 6 Signs Of Sepsis?
Holding a negligent healthcare facility accountable for causing sepsis can be challenging. Hospitals, nursing homes, and other establishments are often quick to hide or destroy evidence in order to create an uphill battle for patients and their families.
A personal injury lawsuit gives you the legal backing you need to prove the facility is at fault and demonstrate the damages their carelessness caused. If your case is successful, you can receive compensation for things like medical bills, extra time you had to take off work, childcare, and other expenses you incurred as a direct result of your sepsis infection.
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5 Reasons You Can File a Sepsis Lawsuit
Did you or someone you love contract a sepsis infection while in the hospital or a nursing home? Or was your sepsis misdiagnosed as another condition and you failed to receive the treatment you needed on time? Our experienced Cleveland, Ohio medical malpractice lawyers are here to assist you.
Contact us today at (440) 333-3800 to book your free first-time consultation to discuss your case and how to move forward with getting the justice you deserve.
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