There are several hospital acquired infections a patient could develop during a hospital stay, particularly after surgery.
While, most of the time, strict hygiene procedures are followed to avoid these situations, mistakes can be made by medical professionals. Those lapses in appropriate hygiene during surgery, treatment, or post-op care could lead to a serious infection.
Common hospital infections acquired in hospital
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)
MRSA cases have increased in recent years. This viral infection is generally non-threatening in normal situations, but it can become dangerous and even deadly when it spreads in hospitals. Symptoms of a MRSA infection typically include the following:
- Fever
- Chills
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Red spots on the skin
- Swelling and tenderness in the infected area
- General feeling of being unwell
MRSA can infect a range of tissues and body systems, depending on how it entered the body. It can cause anything from mild symptoms to potentially fatal conditions such as Septicaemia.
MRSA has often developed in women who have had a C-Section where poorly sterilised surgical or other medical equipment has been used.
Given the severity of these conditions, it is clear why so much money is put toward fighting the spread of MRSA in hospitals.
Sepsis claims
Sepsis is a dangerous condition which occurs when the body’s immune response to an infection can lead to destructive processes where tissues and organs are attacked.
A delay in diagnosing sepsis could have fatal or devastating consequences for a patient. Because of the likelihood of a lengthy hospital stay, sepsis compensation pay-outs will usually factor in loss of earnings as well as pain and suffering especially if the condition has resulted in life changing conditions such as brain injuries or amputation.
C. diff (Clostridium Difficile Infection)
C. diff is a bacteria that can be an even greater danger than MRSA because it can survive for long periods of time on surfaces and objects. Therefore the possible infection vectors are much greater.
This bacteria will often not significantly affect people with healthy immune systems, but for anyone with a weakened immune system, C. diff can cause abdominal cramping and pain as well as severe diarrhoea, leading to dangerous levels of dehydration. C. diff can cause colitis, which has the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Diarrhoea
Because C. diff can survive on surfaces for months, proper hygiene and thorough cleaning of all surfaces is vital in hospitals to prevent the spread of this bacteria. Negligent hygiene practices and infection control, could form the basis of a C diff compensation claim.
Staphylococcal infection
Staph bacteria grows harmlessly on human skin, however if the bacteria enters the body though a cut or wound, a urinary catheter, chest tubes, IVs, central lines or other medical equipment, this could result in a serious infection.
If it can be shown that a hospital acted negligently with regard to hygiene practices and infection control, you could be entitled to make a compensation claim for a Staphylococcal infection.
E. coli (Escherichia Coli)
E. coli is a more familiar bacteria because it can infect people who are exposed to under cooked food or unpasteurised milk, among other vectors. It can also be transmitted through skin contact. While most healthy people can survive an E. coli infection, with unpleasant but short-lived symptoms like stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, in some people, especially those who are already sick or immune-compromised, it can cause kidney problems and potentially even lead to kidney failure.
Group B Strep (GBS)
Group B streptococcus is a bacterium usually found in the digestive system or genital tract. Approximately 20-30% of adults carry this bacterium which is normally harmless.
However if a pregnant woman is a carrier and the baby acquires a Group B Strep infection, the child could be seriously affected.
Identifying the bacteria in the mother and providing the appropriate treatment would prevent a material Group B Streptococcus infection from affecting the newborn.
Strep B infections in babies can be very serious and should be treated immediately to prevent long term injuries or even death. If a diagnosis of Strep B is missed by a medical professional, you may be entitled to make a missed diagnosis of Strep B compensation claim.
Infections associated with pressure sores (pressure ulcers)
Pressure sores, also known as bed sores or pressure ulcers, are lesions which develop when a hospital patient has limited mobility and negligent care has prevented the patient from being move regularly. Because these lesions often develop when tissues are compressed for long periods of time (leading to a lack of blood supply and tissue death), they can be prevented by turning the patient at regular intervals.
For people who are confined to a bed, pressure sores can often develop on the:
• Back or sides of the head
• Shoulder blades
• Hip, lower back or tailbone
• Heels, ankles and skin behind the knees
If it can be determined that a hospital was negligent in following national guidelines on patient care, resulting in pressure or bed sores, a patient may be able to claim compensation.
If a bedsore is not adequately treated, the following consequences may occur:
- Blood poisoning (septicaemia) can lead to septic shock : which can cause damage to internal organs or lead to brain damage, amputations, encephalopathy (brain dysfunction) and even death.
- Cellulitis
- Bone and joint infection
- Gas gangrene
