Hospital Infections
The spread of infectious disease is a major risk in a hospital setting, causing an alarming number of medical complications and untimely deaths every year. This is not a new development; doctors have known for many years that cleanliness in hospitals is literally a matter of life or death. Despite this, careless errors continue to spread preventable and dangerous infections in our nation’s hospitals.
One of the most dangerous infections that can affect hospital patients is MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Primarily spread in hospital, clinics, and nursing homes, this dangerous bacterium is notoriously resistant to many conventional antibiotics. Frustratingly, new MRSA cases can often be prevented by simple hygienic measures.
The Dangers of MRSA
An MRSA infection is caused by contact of the bacteria with an open wound or mucous membrane. The earliest symptom is often a skin rash, which can quickly progress into painful abscesses. If it is not treated in time, MRSA can spread throughout the body, potentially leading to consequences like
- Blood poisoning
- Pneumonia
- Amputations to stop the spread of disease
- Cell necrosis (death)
- Organ failure
If the illness is caught early, it can usually be effectively treated. Unfortunately, if it is not diagnosed in time, it can quickly progress from a mildly painful condition to a fatal illness.
Hospital Negligence and Infection
The spread of infection is generally simple to prevent with the knowledge and medical technology available today. You may have grounds for legal action against a doctor, orderly, or hospital administration if they have committed egregious errors such as:
- Failure to wash hands adequately between patients
- Use of non-sterilized medical equipment
- Failure to screen new patients for infection
Our Tampa hospital negligence attorneys are ready to fight to help you win fair compensation for your pain, suffering, medical bills, lost income, and more.
Contact Us
The Tampa personal injury lawyers of Beltz & Ruth, P.A. fight aggressively for each of our clients. Contact us today at 1-800-235-8978 to learn more about how we can help you.