Approximately 1 million people in the United States develop a hospital infection every year. Hospital infections are typically related to a medical procedure or treatment that the patient is undergoing in a hospital. While dealing with one medical condition, a patient may then have to deal with a new infection.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 36% of hospital infections are preventable, if medical personnel follow strict guidelines on hygiene and maintain a clear, sterile environment.The most common hospital infections include:
- urinary tract infections (UTIs);
- surgical site infections; and
- pneumonia (associated with ventilator use).
The source of hospital infections can be found in unclean catheters and tubes, through which bacteria can travel freely.The Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology reports that 24% of patients who have a catheter inserted will develop a hospital infection. Approximately 5.2% of these infections will enter the bloodstream, and 4% to 20% of the infections will result in death. One of the leading causes of a hospital infection is unsanitary hospital conditions. If you have developed a serious hospital infection while staying in a Chicago area hospital, contact a Chicago medical malpractice attorney to learn more about your legal options for compensation. Contacting a Chicago Medical Malpractice AttorneyAt the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C., our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will examine all aspects of your claim. They will determine liability and aggressively pursue full compensation for you or your loved one, for any injuries or loss of life because of medical malpractice. Contact us today for a no-cost case evaluation – 312-263-1080.