Chicago Hospital Infection Attorney

Hospitals are breeding grounds for germs that can cause illness, lasting injury or death if proper procedures to avoid hospital-acquired infections are not followed. Unfortunately, these germs are often spread due to medical negligence. The medical professionals and hospital staff responsible for causing infections should be held accountable for the harm they cause.

If you or a loved one has suffered hospital infection, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today to learn about your legal options. Call us toll free or contact us online today. Our Chicago hospital infection lawyers can provide you with a free consultation. We serve medical negligence victims throughout Chicago, Waukegan, Cook County, Lake County and across Illinois.

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WHAT IS A HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION?

Hospital-acquired infections are caused by pathogens in the hospital environment. Patients do not come into the hospital with these infections but instead acquire them after admission. 

Hospital patients are often very sick and cannot fight off germs due to compromised immune systems. The types of germs that cause hospital infections are often more dangerous than those encountered in the community, says the PubMed Health website.

Resources for the Future estimates that 1 in 20 patients admitted to a hospital for routine surgery or other treatments contracts a serious infection that they did not have when they were admitted to the hospital. The Washington, D.C. think tank conservatively estimates that 48,000 deaths are caused each year by hospital infections.

COMMON TYPES OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS 

Some of the most common types of infections acquired in hospitals include:

Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)

  • These preventable hospital infections are caused when germs travel through a catheter inserted in a patient, usually near their heart. Bacteria may enter the bloodstream through the central line.

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections 

  • Bacteria can enter the urinary system through a catheter, usually when the catheter has been left in too long. 

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

  • MRSA is a bacterium that causes infections. It can cause mild skin infections or more serious infections that get into surgical wounds, the lungs, bloodstream, or urinary tract.

Surgical Site Infections (SSI) 

  • If proper sanitary procedures are not followed, a patient may acquire an infection at the site of their surgery. These infections can lead to serious side effects, including damage to tissues under the skin and organs. 

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

  •  Bacteria can enter through the air tubes of a ventilator that delivers oxygen to the patient. In some cases, patients develop pneumonia because of these infections. 

Clostridium Difficile

  •  The Centers for Disease Control characterizes infections related to clostridium difficile (C. diff) as a life-threatening condition involving severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon.  

A Chicago infection attorney from our firm can review the circumstances surrounding your hospital infection and explain whether you may have grounds for a medical malpractice case.

NEGLIGENCE CAUSES HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS

Health care associated infections are usually caused by bacteria and other harmful pathogens in the hospital environment. In the worst cases, a hospital infection can result in sepsis and the shutting down of the body’s organs. If you or a loved one suffered from an infection of this nature, our Chicago sepsis attorney can help.

The first thing our Chicago sepsis lawyer will do is investigate the cause of the infection. Some of the common causes of preventable hospital infections include:

  • Failure to wash hands – A study by the Association for Psychological Science found that health care professionals wash their hands only about a third to half of the time after coming into contact with germs.
  • Failure to control the spread of waterborne microorganisms – Examples include failing to properly clean and disinfect sinks and washbasins and failing to eliminate contaminated water or fluid (solutions) in equipment reservoirs.
  • Use of dirty surgical instruments – An investigative report released by the Centers for Public Integrity said hospitals do not clean instruments properly and surgical instruments made of new alloys cannot be properly cleaned.
  • Failure to use double-gloving during surgery – Medical professionals should wear two sets of gloves when performing surgery in which sharp surfaces are formed (such as dental or orthopedic surgery).
  • Failure to follow cleaning and disinfecting strategies – Proper steps should be taken to clean areas after blood spills or spills of blood-containing body fluids.
  • Failure to follow special handling and disposal precautions for certain items – Healthcare providers should properly dispose of needles, scalpels, anatomy, pathology and laboratory waste and blood (including bulk blood, blood products, and bloody body fluid specimens). 
  • Failure to use catheters correctly – Catheters are a leading cause of infection in hospitals. Patients may be harmed when their healthcare providers fail to remove catheters as quickly as possible, sanitize them properly, or monitor patients for signs of infection.
  • Failing to order tests – Failing to order tests and failing to recognize and follow up after tests that indicate abnormalities are leading causes of deaths due to hospital infections.

If you suspect the infection was caused by any of these reasons or some other form of negligence, a hospital infection attorney from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. can investigate the case. Contact us today for a free consultation.

HOW A HOSPITAL INFECTION LAWYER CAN HELP

Hospital patients deserve to be treated with care and respect. This includes receiving care from a hospital or medical facility where proper sanitation protocols are in place and are carefully followed. A hospital infection attorney can review the circumstances surrounding the infection to determine if it was caused by:

  • Not keeping surgical incisions clean, not disinfecting surgical tools, or not disposing of pathogens properly
  • Not following safety protocol established by the medical facility 
  • Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
  • Failure to monitor a patient’s symptoms

Our hospital infection lawyers in Chicago IL can also help your case by:

  • Identifying all parties whose negligence contributed to the infection
  • Accounting for the full extent of your damages, including additional medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering
  • Working with medical experts to support your case
  • Negotiating full and fair compensation
  • Advising you of your legal rights and answering any questions you have

Contact us today for a free consultation.

CALL OUR HOSPITAL INFECTION LAWYERS IN CHICAGO IL TODAY

A Chicago hospital infection attorney with experience in medical malpractice claims, such as those at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. in Chicago, can evaluate the circumstances of your injury or your loved one’s injury or death following a hospital-acquired infection. Our medical malpractice attorneys work with accredited medical experts to determine whether healthcare standards were met. We can advise you of your legal options.

Keep in mind that there are strict deadlines for filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois. Please don’t delay in taking action to protect your rights. We represent hospital infection victims throughout Chicago, Waukegan, Cook County, Lake County, and across Illinois. Call us today toll-free or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation about your case.