Memphis Medical Malpractice Lawyers Advocating for Clients Injured from Hospital-Acquired Infections

Protecting the rights of those injured by medical errors throughout Tennessee

You go to the hospital for surgery or to receive treatment for a disease. Hospitals are supposed to be clean and sanitary, so the last thing you expect is to contract an illness just from being in the hospital. Hospital-acquired infections or healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are a significant threat to patient safety, but they are also preventable.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that HAIs account for about 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths each year in the U.S.

At the law firm of Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are here to protect our clients' right to recover compensation when they have suffered an injury or lost a loved one because of a hospital-acquired infection. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with an attorney who understands the complexities of holding the medical provider accountable for preventable patient harm.

What is a hospital acquired infection?

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that HAIs are the most frequent adverse events in healthcare worldwide. Of every 100 hospitalizations, seven in developed countries and ten in developing countries will acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection. The CDC reports that about 1 in 25 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection.

For it to be considered a hospital-acquired infection it must have occurred:

• Within 48 hours of admission to the hospital
• Up to three days after discharge from hospital
• Up to 30 days after an operation
• In a healthcare setting where the person was admitted for a reason other than the infection

Examples of nosocomial (hospital acquired infections)

There are many different types of infections that can be considered HAIs, with the most common include the following:

• Urinary tract infections (UTI)
• Surgical site infections (SSI)
• Pneumonia
• Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
• Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP)

The CDC's HAI Prevalence Survey reports that the most common surgical site infections were found following colon surgeries, hip replacement, and small bowel procedures.