Hospital-Acquired Bacterial Infections

You may think that, of all places, a hospital is a sterile area and a safe place where you do not have to worry about bacterial infections. But the truth is that hospitals have come to be known as ground zero for infections.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 648,000 people in the United States develop infections each year during their stay in the hospital. Of those, about 75,000 end up dying.

So, where do these infections come from? And who is to blame for the harm caused?

Infections That Can Be Traced to Antibiotics & Medical Errors in Pennsylvania

As it turns out, the very drugs that are meant to fight infections and help patients heal are part of the problem. Antibiotics are given to patients in an effort to prevent a post surgical infection, only for the complete opposite happen. Moreover, these medication errors are just the tip of the iceberg.

Some surgical patients have ended up dying because of infections that take hold in their surgical incision and later spread. A common infection in this instance is known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), which takes the lives of more than 8,000 patients each year and sickens another 60,000.

MRSA finds its way into a patient’s body through the tubes and lines that doctors use to deliver medication and nutrition to patients, or, as already mentioned, through surgical incisions.

These bacterial infections that patients contract can be blamed on the hospital. These infections can serve as a telltale sign that the hospital is not following best practices to prevent infections and prescribe antibiotics. In turn, this makes the hospital a breeding ground for even more resistant infections that are more difficult to treat.

If you contracted a bacterial infection during your hospital stay or treatment, you can potentially take legal action in the form of a medical malpractice lawsuit and hold the right party responsible for their negligence.

Erie Medical Malpractice Attorneys Fight on Your Behalf

It will take an experienced and dedicated medical malpractice attorney to get you the justice you deserve. Luckily for you, the attorneys at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. in Erie, PA have the experience necessary to fight on your behalf. We represent clients injured due hospital negligence in Erie, North East, Meadville, and throughout Pennsylvania.

Our legal team will use their extensive knowledge and tools to thoroughly investigate your case and determine who acted negligently in your medical treatment. Whether it was the doctor, nurse, or someone else who was responsible for your infection, we will fight to make sure that you are properly compensated for your pain and suffering.

Just fill out the online contact form to begin discussing your case with an experienced attorney. You can also call us at (814) 273-2010.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.