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"Nosocomial infection is an
infection that occurs in a hospital that was not present or incubating
at the time of the admission. Nosocomial infections are endemic and
epidemic in intensive care units and are a significant source of
morbidity, mortality and cost."
MARK MCKENNY, SCOTT NORWOOD: The
Prevalence and Importance of Nosocomial Infections in the Intensive Care
Unit in CRITICAL CARE, 3RD ED. Lippincott Williams &Wilkins,
1996
Hospital Infections
Many patients inquire about potential
malpractice claims arising from hospital stays that result in a patient
developing an infection while in the hospital. Hospitals by the very
nature of the work performed are areas of potential infections. In
examining a case of malpractice relating to contracting an infection, it
is necessary to cautiously and thoroughly investigate the facts specific
to the patients hospital stay.
The standards of Texas malpractice law
apply as in any other medical claim: There must have been an error
committed in the plan to reduce infection exposure; the error must have
been one that a reasonable hospital would not have committed (in other
words, a reasonable hospital would have made sure the infection plan was
in force); and, the error must have been the cause of the resulting
damages or injuries.
Many times, infections can cause an
otherwise difficult medical condition to become much more difficult, and
even result in death of a patient. Thus, when an infection is contracted
it is necessary to examine the reason for the hospital stay in the first
place, the risk of contracting an infection for that type of patient,
and the steps taken by the hospital to reduce exposure to infectious
agents. Infection cases must be thoroughly investigated to determine
whether the hospital had a plan, whether healthcare providers in the
hospital followed the plan, whether physicians were properly monitoring
the use and administration of antibiotics, whether sterilization
procedures were properly followed, and whether some other explanation
exists.
Active and aggressive discovery of all
persons in the areas were the patient was housed is essential.
In short, there are simply too many areas
of potential discussion concerning infections, to address in this page;
if you have any questions, contact an experienced attorney to discuss
the specifics of your situation.
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