Cause of Infections: Medical Malpractice in Houston

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Whenever you are ill or injured, your body's immune system sets up defenses against infection while it works with other systems of the body to restore your health. Whether you are recovering at home, in a clinic or hospital, disease-producing germs present in the environment can work to worsen your condition. At home you can take preventative measures, but when you visit a clinic or enter the hospital, you trust medical professionals to use the highest standard of care when treating you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 2 million people in the United States acquire infections in hospitals and clinics, resulting in severe injury and 99,000 preventable deaths each year. When you or a loved one has suffered harm due to an infection contracted in a hospital or clinic, you can consult a Houston personal injury attorney to seek compensation for your damages.

Dangerous Infections in Hospitals

In large hospital populations, detection of the source of an infection may be difficult, but the spread of infection is very preventable. Infection are commonly transmitted when hospital officials fail to uphold high standards of hygiene. As medical personnel move from one patient to another, they can themselves spread infections.

The most common types of preventable infections patients acquire in a hospital or clinic, include:

• Surgical site infections (SSI), the result of various mistakes during and after surgery.
• Blood stream infections, from contaminated instruments, needles or dressings.
• Pneumonia, when a patient's immune defenses are already taxed.
• Urinary tract infections, from various unclean invasive devises, such as catheters.

People in hospitals are usually already in a poor state of health. Further, hospital officials and personnel must take greater care of risk populations such as with premature babies to prevent complications of birth injuries. Invasive devices such as surgical drains, catheters and other tubes bypass the body's natural lines of defense and provide an easy route for infection. Treatment measures themselves can put a patient at risk of infection, such as when a patient needs multiple blood transfusions.

All medical staff must follow strict rules of conduct regarding sanitation to protect your health. When they fail in their duty, you have a right to recover from your physical, emotional and financial losses. Contact a Houston medical malpractice lawyer today for the compensation you deserve.