Hospital care is often required for those who are ill or injured. However, there are unseen dangers involved in our healthcare system according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This report detailed the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) that can be contracted during the course of hospital care.
It is amazing that in 2014 it is still possible to contract an infection as a result of a lack of hand washing. However, the numbers reported in recent studies show that healthcare-associated infection is more than just a possibility – it is a danger all hospital patients face. According to CDC Director Tom Freyden, more than 200 Americans will die each day as a result of an infection contracted during a hospital stay. Freyden goes on to state: “The most advanced medical care won’t work if clinicians don’t prevent infections through basic things such as regular hand hygiene. Health care workers want the best for their patents; following standard infection control practices every time will help ensure their patient’s safety.”
The Multistate Point-Prevalence Survey of Healthcare-associated Infections, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reports the most common infections related to hospitalization. These include pneumonia, surgical site infections, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections. While not all of these infections result in death, it is certain that these infections make recovery from surgery, illness, or other reasons involving hospitalization, more difficult.
Infections that result from a lack of hand washing and other preventive measures or safety issues such as unsterilized equipment, unsafe handling of blood and other substances, etc. may fall in the category of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice claims in Georgia are difficult to pursue, but the attorneys at Brownstein and Nguyen in Atlanta have extensive experience in litigating these types of cases. If you or someone you know has suffered from a serious infection as a result of medical malpractice or negligence, contact our Georgia malpractice attorneys for a free consultation today.
