Two million infections occur in nursing homes each year. These infections contribute to mortality, cause hospitalization, and increase medical expenses. Nursing home infections cause physical pain and discomfort.
Sadly, many infections in nursing homes could be prevented. By their nature, infections spread by contact and transmission. When caregivers don’t do enough to prevent nursing home infection, victims may suffer.
Legal help for a nursing home infection
If you have suffered from nursing home neglect or abuse and infection occurs, you may deserve additional compensation because of the infection. You can have help from a lawyer. Contact Bobby Jones Law now to talk about your case.
Note: We welcome people seeking help on behalf of a loved one living in a care facility to contact us.
Common Infections That Pose Risks in Nursing Homes
Common nursing home infections include the following:
Sepsis
Sepsis is a dangerous bodily response to infection. The body becomes overwhelmed by the infection as it tries to fight it. The immune system may attack healthy tissue, and blood clots may reduce blood flow to vital organs. The mortality rate for sepsis is high, with a death rate of up to 40% for septic shock.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a bone infection. It may start at the bone, but it commonly spreads to the bone from somewhere else in the body. A pressure sore is a common place where bacteria or fungi can enter the body and then infect the bone. If left untreated, osteomyelitis can cause tissue death. It may also cause painful swelling, fever, chills, nausea, and other symptoms.
Urinary tract infection
A urinary tract infection is often the result of bacteria introduced into the urinary system.
Symptoms may include pain, frequent urination, and incontinence. If left untreated, complications may arise. Catheter use increases the risk.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infection is a leading cause of death among nursing home residents. A person using a feeding tube has an elevated risk, and regurgitation may lead to aspiration pneumonia. Poor oral care may increase the risk of pneumonia.
Diarrheal disease
Gastroenteritis may be caused by a virus or bacteria. It may cause diarrhea and contribute to dehydration. In seniors, gastroenteritis may increase morbidity. Gastroenteritis may result from poor food handling; germs can also be transmitted through water.
Skin and soft tissue
Exposed skin and soft tissues may become infected. For example, a pressure ulcer that is not properly treated may lead to infection. Diabetic wound infections and vascular ulcers can progress with serious complications.
Examples of causes of infection in nursing homes
- A patient contracts a urinary infection because of poor hygiene and improper catheter management. The infection could be easily treated, but medical care is delayed. The infection progresses into a kidney infection and later causes sepsis.
- The nursing home resident has limited mobility. They need to be turned at regular intervals. They’re not tended to for a long period, so they develop pressure injuries or bedsores. Later pressure sores become infected.
- A care facility has a broken elevator. The elevator malfunctions, striking the resident and causing them to fall. They break a bone. While they are in the hospital, a medical care provider fails to change gloves between patients. Infection spreads, causing complications.
The Role of Proper Hygiene and Sanitation in Infection Control
Infectious disease can spread in multiple ways, including the following:
- Through the air, airborne spread
- Skin contact
- Moist parts of the body, such as the nose, mouth, or genitals
- Contact with feces and then the mouth
- Bodily fluid contact
- Sexual contact
Germs can spread directly as people have contact with each other. They can also spread when someone touches something contaminated. Contaminated food and water can also spread germs.
Staff Responsibilities in Preventing Nursing Home Infections
Nursing home staff have a duty to take measures to prevent nursing home infections. Reasonable steps may include:
- Proper training about risk of infection
- Oral and dental care
- Proper catheter handling
- Changing gloves between patients
- Adequate linen changes
- Food safety and handling
- Adequate hydration for residents
- Proper turning and movement to prevent pressure ulcers
- Wound care to prevent secondary infection
- Isolation of infected patients
- Cleaning and disinfecting
- Washing hands after bathroom use and before providing patient care
- Requiring/allowing workers to stay home when they are sick
When a person has a medical incident or condition, they should be monitored at appropriate intervals for signs of complications.
How To Identify and Report Negligence Leading to Infections
When an infection occurs, an injury or illness may become even more serious. Without a secondary infection, a person might have healed in months or weeks. However, an infection can increase medical costs, prolong suffering, or even cause death.
Negligence can significantly increase damages in a nursing home abuse and neglect case. Of course, nursing home representatives and medical providers aren’t likely to admit that they did anything wrong. You must prove your case. A lawyer can help you investigate the cause of the infection and what damages may be included in a claim.
Legal Recourse for Nursing Home Residents Who Suffer Infections
If a nursing home resident suffers an infection, they may have legal recourse. Damages for nursing home neglect and abuse are the losses that result because of the harm that occurs. If a person suffers an infection, it may be a secondary complication, multiplying damages from the original act of abuse or neglect. It may also be a separate incident of abuse and neglect.
Bobby Jones Law represents victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious infection, we invite you to contact us to see how we may help you claim fair compensation. We understand how infection may be included in a claim for compensation.
Lawyer Robert “Bobby” Jones is an aggressive advocate for nursing home abuse and neglect victims.
Contact an Experienced Greenville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Contact an experienced Greenville nursing home abuse lawyer today. Talk to a lawyer about serious infections in nursing homes and what happened in your case. Get legal help now.
