How Common Are Hospital Infections?

Posted on November 03, 2014 by Shapiro Law Group

Several Prescription Pill Bottles in a Pile

At least six Florida hospitals are having trouble controlling their infection rate, putting patients at risk for serious health complications.

Did My Hospital Cause My Infection?

Every year, 1 in 25 hospital patients sustains an infection during treatment. Unfortunately, about 75,000 of those patients lose their lives.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) establishes infection control procedures and monitors hospitals for compliance. The government agency tracks several common causes of infection:

  • intravenous injection sites
  • catheters to drain the bladder
  • antibiotic resistant germs like Clostridium difficile (C. diff) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
  • surgical site infections after hysterectomies and colon operations

At least 25 percent of hospitals in Florida rated worse than average in one infection category or more. Ten Florida facilities reported higher infection rates in two or more categories.

Are Florida Hospitals Safe?

A patient safety expert from Kentucky believes the CDC’s infectious disease protocol is too broad, leaving hospital staff plenty of room to cut corners. Many hospitals have reduced their infection rate over the last decade, but they could do more if they followed infection control procedures more closely.

When inserting tubes into infected patients, the CDC recommends using maximal barrier procedures such as covering patients with a sterile drape and wearing sterile masks, gowns and gloves.

Can an Infection Be Malpractice?

Doctors have a responsibility to use infection control procedures. When their negligence leads to injury or death, a medical malpractice lawsuit can help injured victims get justice.

If a healthcare worker failed to follow  hospital protocol, they could be the cause of your infection. For more information on your legal rights, schedule a free consultation with the lawyers at Shapiro Law Group. We have defended victims of medical malpractice for more than 30 years, and our experience could help you get justice.

Shapiro Law GroupMedical Malpractice Attorneys Serving the Tampa Bay Area

Source: http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/fl-hospitals-battling-infections

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