Most Tennessee Hospital-Acquired Infections Could Be Avoided

There isn’t a single one of us who cannot appreciate the constant advances in United States hospital care. Thanks to ongoing research and technology, many diseases and injuries that would have resulted in death 50 years ago are being successfully treated.

However, there is one frightening prospect when we enter the hospital that has nothing to do with the reason we are admitted. Hospital-acquired infections are all too common events for way too many patients. A June 2011 article by Consumer Reports estimates that 99,000 Americans die of infections they acquired after entering the hospital each year.

Some basic facts about hospital-acquired infections:

• Most agree that if a patient shows clinical evidence within 48 hours after entering the hospital, that the infection is considered “hospital-acquired”.
• These infections can also present themselves after the patient is discharged and still be acquired while in the hospital.
• It is estimated that hospital acquired infections kill three times more people than HIV does in the U.S.
  One study, which examined the health records of 69 million Americans from 1998 to 2006, found that the majority of these infections were caused by the use of ventilators and catheters. Central line infections can affect the entire bloodstream.
• This same study found that, by instituting safety checklists and team approaches to hospital care, the number of infections could drop to almost nothing.

What are the most common types of hospital-acquired infections?

There are many types of bacteria and viruses that can cause infection. Here is a list of some of the most common ones. It is important to note that the first three make up about two-thirds of all hospital-acquired infections.

• Central line-associated bloodstream infections
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia
• Surgical site infections
• Gastrointestinal infections, most often caused by exposure to bacterium transferred by unclean hands

Are these infections avoidable?

Perhaps the most disturbing fact of all is that instituting infection control programs in healthcare institutions can prevent most of these infections. According to Consumer Reports, hospitals that have instituted programs designed to reduce and/or eliminate unnecessary infections have been very successful, some cutting their rates to zero, or nearly so. And some still don’t seem to care enough to do what is right.

If you or a loved one has suffered a hospital-related infection, or suspect that you have, then you know just how devastating it can be. The results of this type of negligence can be serious illness and even death.

To get your questions answered, contact a Tennessee medical malpractice lawyer who understands the pain you have endured as the result of a hospital’s mistakes. Call Bailey & Greer in Memphis today toll free at 901-680-9777 and discover your legal options in filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.