Infections
When a patient goes into hospital it is the responsibility of that hospital and the staff to ensure that they are cared for in a clean and safe environment, but infections like Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium Difficile (C Difficile) are now commonly found in hospitals.
There is increasing concern about the effect this may have on patients, particularly the elderly and those who have weakened immune systems as a result of surgery or illness. Risk factors for infection include implants, diabetes, smoking, poor nutrition, prolonged hospitalisation and prolonged surgery.
MRSA normally lives on our skin but if it is allowed to enter the bloodstream for example through broken skin, a cannula, urinary catheters or intravascular lines, problems may develop. In some cases patients could suffer from pneumonia, septicaemia, bone infections or toxic-shock. Health professionals advise that MRSA is on the increase due to the need to reduce waiting lists which results in a rise in bed occupancy, the frequent moves of patients within hospitals and the lack of beds available to separate trauma and elderly patients.
C Difficile is commonly found in the large intestine and is the major cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea. It can be a life-threatening illness especially in the elderly and patients with an underlying disease.
Patients can develop infections at the time they are admitted to hospital, during surgery or through cross-infection after surgery. Sometimes there may be delays in recognising and treating infections or they may be inappropriately treated.
Most hospitals have an infection control policy and as part of this patients may be screened for MRSA before high-risk procedures are carried out. If precautions are not taken the hospital may be in direct breach of its policy if an infection is then found or if an infection is not treated as it should be.
In cases involving infection there may be a simple lack of medical care for example, inappropriate wound care, inappropriate antibiotics or a failure to monitor treatment. However, determining the cause of an infection is always difficult as infections are a common occurrence after surgery and in hospitals generally. In most cases it is very difficult to determine when the infection began and the cause of it. Even if there is evidence of negligence it is very hard to show that the negligence caused the infection.
If you have suffered as a result of a medical accident or because of sub-standard care or management, the law can help you find out what happened and why, and in some cases recover compensation for your suffering. Contact us for further information.
We have a team of specialist solicitors who can advise you whether it may be possible to pursue a claim for medical negligence following an infection.
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