People dealing with medical emergencies tend to think of hospitals as relatively safe. They are the best location to secure care for trauma and serious illnesses. Medical professionals can provide around-the-clock support for those who cannot care for themselves. However, hospitals and similar facilities can actually be a very dangerous place for medically vulnerable people.
Being in close proximity to others who may have infectious diseases or be in the middle of a mental health issue can lead to illness or injury. Those running hospitals generally need to address issues that can compromise patient safety, including exposure to pathogens and the risk of interpersonal violence. Maintaining clean facilities is critical for patient safety.
Unfortunately, hospitals are one of the most common sources of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
What is MRSA?
MRSA is a class of bacteria that does not respond to many standard antibiotics. As the name implies, these organisms are resistant to treatment with traditional antibiotic medications, making them very difficult to address.
A patient with MRSA is at risk of sepsis, which can complicate any other medical issue they recently experienced. If left untreated, MRSA and sepsis could potentially prove fatal for a patient who might otherwise recover.
When are hospitals liable for MRSA?
Generally speaking, health care professionals and support workers need to be diligent about cleanliness and sanitation. They should ensure that they clean rooms, linens and tools adequately. They may also need to change their gowns and gloves in between patients to prevent the spread of infection. When they notice warning signs of MRSA, they may need to test patients and sequester them from others to prevent it from spreading.
The failure to adhere to best practices can lead to severe, preventable infections with devastating implications for patients. If better sanitation practices, prompt testing or appropriate treatment could have prevented the MRSA infection or reduced the likelihood of a patient developing sepsis, then there could be grounds for a negligence lawsuit related to the maintenance of a health care facility.
Those in hospitals and nursing homes who acquire MRSA and other severe infections may have the right to seek compensation from a facility. Reviewing what caused an MRSA infection and its impact on a patient with a skilled legal team can help sickened patients and grieving families more effectively pursue justice.