Did you contract an infection during your stay at the hospital?
Hospitals are a breeding ground for infectious germs and airborne illness. If hospitals do not stay on top of cleanliness, or there staff is negligent in any way, then you as the patient could be at risk of infection. The hospital staff is responsible for keeping a sterile environment so that patients are safe from harm. However, there are times when they fail to uphold this responsibility and the patients suffer as a result. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a hospital infection let us help you hold the negligent party responsible for their actions.

This form of medical malpractice is much too common and when it causes illness or even death, legal action can be pursued to obtain justice, effect change and receive financial compensation for costs associated with the infection, as well as pain and suffering. If you have lost a loved one from such an event, we understand that no amount of money will alleviate your grief. There is an amount of relief that can be obtained from seeking justice. Caras Law Group has helped many over nearly three  decades to achieve justice for those who have been wronged.

Types of Hospital-Acquired Infections

•    Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE): A family of antibiotic-resistant germs that can cause deadly infections in 40-50% of victims. Outbreaks of CRE have been linked to duodenoscopes that are nearly impossible to sterilize.
•     Catheter-assisted urinary tract infections: This is one of the most preventable hospital infections, because it often occurs when a catheter is left in a patient for too long. UTIs are infections of the urethra, bladder, ureters, and/or kidneys.
•    Ventilator-assisted pneumonia: This is a serious lung infection that occurs in people on a mechanical ventilator machine.
•     Clostridium difficile: This staph infection causes a gastrointestinal infection and diarrhea that is estimated to cause 14,000 American deaths every year, mostly in the elderly.
•    Surgical Site Infections (SSIs): These infections can be superficial skin infections or serious, life-threatening tissue and organ infections. SSIs include necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria), which is fatal in 30-40% of cases.
•    Meningitis: This is an infection of the protective lining around the brain and spinal cord (meninges). In 2012, an outbreak of fungal meningitis was injured 750 people and led to 63 deaths. The outbreak was linked to contaminated vials of an epidural steroid used to treat back pain in outpatient clinics.
•    Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA): This extremely dangerous staph infection is caused by bacteria that are not killed by standard antibiotics (penicillin, amoxicillin, oxacillin).
•    Sepsis: This is a bloodstream infection that can lead to septic shock — a whole-body allergic reaction that can cause multi-organ system failure and death.

Infection is one of the greatest risks accompanying any surgical procedure or hospital stay. Hospital staff members must be especially alert to post-operative infections because hospitals and clinics are a breeding ground for infection. Post-operative infections can lead to sepsis, organ failure, brain injury or wrongful death. These types of infections can often have long-lasting, life-altering consequences, especially if not treated quickly and effectively.

If you believe you have suffered from a serious infection that was not properly or promptly treated, contact the Chicago Hospital Infection medical malpractice attorneys at CARAS LAW GROUP to schedule a free consultation.

Related Information:

• http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health/hospital-acquired-infections/index.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/hai/surveillance/progress-report/index.html