Hospital-acquired infections can take a toll on a patient recovering from a surgical procedure or serious illness. Attorney Chris Mellino invites you to contact our Cleveland office with any questions you have about an infection, a potential claim, or Ohio’s statute of limitations.
What Is a Hospital-Acquired Infection?
A hospital-acquired infection (HAI), also known as a nosocomial infection or a healthcare-associated infection, is a condition that a patient develops after receiving treatment for other issues in a healthcare facility. To qualify, the infection must not have been present or incubating at the time the patient was admitted.
HAIs generally appear more than 48 hours after patient arrival and can be the result of bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Commonly, these infections occur after catheter or central line placement, or when a patient has been intubated or put on a ventilator.
Symptoms of an HAI
Symptoms of an infection acquired in a healthcare facility vary widely depending on the type of infection and the part of the body affected. Some general symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue or weakness, and rapid heart rate or breathing. Symptoms by type of HAI include:
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
- Feeling the need to urinate frequently
- Burning or pain during urination
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Surgical Site Infections
- Redness, swelling, or warmth around the incision
- Discharge or pus from the wound
Pneumonia
- Cough with phlegm
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
Sepsis
- Low blood pressure
- Confusion or disorientation
- Skin rash
HAI Statistics
A 2010 report in the Archives of Internal Medicine analyzed incidents of pneumonia and sepsis caused by hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA, or methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus superbug, and discovered that, in 2006, more than 48,000 patients were killed as a result of these infections.
This staggering statistic actually represents a significant decline in the number of hospital-acquired infections that resulted in death, which, in 2002, claimed 99,000 people per year, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Unfortunately, this decrease in the number of patients who acquire infections has had little effect on the morbidity rate of those who do, which the report found to be at 20 percent in instances of hospital-acquired sepsis and 11 percent in cases of infection-related pneumonia.
Of course, there’s always a tragic tale behind a statistic. For instance, the Safe Patient Project, which acts as watchdog for healthcare consumers, reported that one infant contracted seven infections while in the hospital for routine surgery that ultimately claimed her life. Doctors and nurses blamed the child’s weak immune system, but she’d never developed an infection while living in a household that included two boys and pets.
Treatment for HAIs
Treatment for an HAI typically includes antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal medication depending on which pathogen is responsible for the infection. Lab testing and cultures are usually performed first to identify the organism and its drug efficacy, but broad-spectrum antibiotics may be started while waiting for the results if the patient’s condition is deteriorating.
Catheters, central lines, or ventilators that are the source of infection may need to be replaced or removed entirely. In cases of surgical site infections or abscesses, another procedure may be needed to clean and drain the infected area.
Can I File a Medical Malpractice Claim for a Hospital-Acquired Infection?
Attorney Chris Mellino invites you to contact our Cleveland office with any questions you have about an infection or its consequences. Call now at (440) 333-3800 to get started.
Click here to read more about filing a medical malpractice lawsuit for a hospital-acquired infection. You may also download or request Chris’ free, easy-to-read guide to filing a medical malpractice or wrongful death claim in Ohio.