Infection Guidelines: Many Hospital Acquired Infections Are Preventable

By Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Attorney Thomas Waitt Pleasant (Raleigh, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Toll Free 888-435-7156. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has taken a step in the right direction in order to deal with hospital acquired infections, a problem that seems to be on the rise. Many of the nursing home and medical malpractice cases that come through my office involve some type of infection. Many of these are preventable.

Specifically, HHS released official guidelines this week for the reduction of infections in hospitals, including guidelines related to six of the more common hospital acquired infections (HAIs). The report is entitled "HHS ACtion Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections." These six infections include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (“MRSA”) and Clostridium difficile (“C Diff”). These infections are seen quite often in nursing homes, rest homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals.

Besides MRSA and C. diff infections, HHS identified these as the most common hospital acquired infections:

1. catheter-linked urinary infections;
2. surgical site infections;
3. blood-stream infections (from intravenous lines); and
4. pneumonia from ventilators.

In order to prevent infections from hospitals and other healthcare facilities like nursing homes, HHS recommends, among other things:

1. adequate control of blood sugar among diabetic patients;
2. more prudent use of both ventilators and catheters;
3. increased use of sterile techniques, including sterile gloves, sterile gowns, masks and caps when inserting central venous catheters; and
4. improper use of catheters in nursing homes for the management of incontinent patients

Medical negligence casese, including those involving nursing home abuse and neglect, often involve infections that were preventable. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed by an infection that you believe was preventable; or if that person has suffered injury or death as a result of other medical mistakes or negligence; or nursing home abuse or neglect; feel free to contact The Law Offices of Thomas Waitt Pleasant, Toll Free at 888-435-7156. We offer three convenient North Carolina locations: Wilmington, Raleigh and Fayetteville, or will come to you if necessary.