If you developed an infection while in the hospital, it may have been the result of medical negligence. Hospital-acquired infections can create setbacks in your recovery, cause permanent injuries, and are often fatal. If your infection was caused by medical negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost income and more. You’ll need the help of an experienced medical malpractice attorney to win.
One of the most common ways the infections are spread in hospitals is still failure to follow proper handwashing protocols, by medical staff.
Surgical Site Infections
A surgical site infection can be deadly. It may only affect the incision at the skin level, but some go much deeper reaching organs and other tissues. The consequences can be removal of tissue and/or organs, amputation and even death. Medical errors which can cause surgical site infections include:
- Failure to clean hands and arms up to the elbows immediately before surgery
- Failure to properly elan and prepare the patient’s skin before surgery
- Failure to remove hair from the patient before surgery if needed
- Use of dirty surgical instruments
- Failure to follow proper handwashing protocols when providing aftercare
- Other unsanitary conditions
Ventilators, Catheters and Central Lines
Infections caused by ventilators, catheters, central lines, and similar devices are typically caused by:
- Failure to follow proper handwashing protocols
- Failure to properly clean the device
- Failure to remove the device as soon as it is no longer needed
Infections that are commonly associated with these devices are as follows:
- Ventilator – pneumonia
- Urinary catheter – infection of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, and/or urethra
- Central Line – bloodstream infection
If you or someone you love has developed an infection while using or after removal of one of these devices, you may be told that it is a normal, unavoidable complication. Not every case is caused by medical negligence, but many are.
To learn more about compensation for hospital-acquired infection caused by medical malpractice in Maryland, please call Patrick D. Troxler, Esq., at 301-709-7195 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.
