Hospital Acquired Infections

Hospital Acquired Infections

A hospital acquired infection (HAI) is an infection that is acquired in a hospital or other health care facility. Infection is spread by various means within the clinical setting, contaminated equipment and bed linens, staff may be infected, another infected patient or in some cases from the patient’s own skin becoming susceptible after surgery or other procedures that compromise the skin’s protective barrier. Some of the most common hospital acquired infections are;

MRSA

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is the full name of MRSA, some may know it as a ‘Superbug’. MRSA is an infection caused by the staphylococcus (staph) bacteria. These bacteria live harmlessly on the skin of around 1 in 30 people and generally don’t cause any harm. MRSA infections occur when there has been a cut or break to the skin and these bacteria multiply uncontrollably and work their way deeper into the skin. MRSA is very contagious and people staying hospital are at a greater risk because there are ways for the bacteria to travel into their bodies through infected feeding tubes, catheters or drips into veins, they’re in close proximity to large numbers of people allowing the spread to occur easily, they may have other serious health problems meaning their body is less able to fight off the infection. MRSA is usually treated with antibiotics however the choice of antibiotic is limited as most will not work.

MSSA

Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus is an infection caused by a bacteria living on the skin. MRSA and MSSA only differ in their resistance to antibiotics, other than that there is no real difference between them. Having MSSA doesn’t cause any symptoms and you usually don’t feel unwell. If the bacteria penetrates deeper into the skin however it can cause pain and swelling, nausea and fever which is a sign that the body is fighting the infection. Staph infections can result in a number of medical problems some of which can be life threatening, the most common being pneumonia, septic arthritis and toxic shock syndrome. Identifying and treating the infection early is therefore of paramount importance.

C Difficile

Clostridium difficile, often shortened to C difficile or C diff, is a bacteria which can infect the bowel. The toxins it produces damage the lining of the colon causing diarrhoea which is unpleasant in itself but can sometimes result in more serious bowel problems as well as other symptoms such as fever, nausea and abdominal pain.

People who have most recently completed a course of antibiotics are most likely to contract the infection but there are other factors which increase the risk of c diff infection, including older age, hospitalisation, long duration of antibiotic treatment and those with underlying health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and kidney disease.

C diff infections are passed on very easily therefore prevention efforts of practising good hygiene are of paramount importance. These include;

• washing hands regularly with soap and water (hand gels are ineffective)
• not sharing towels and flannels
• cleaning contaminated surfaces with bleach based cleaner
• using disposable gloves and aprons when caring for c diff patients
• Providing c diff patients with their own toilet facilities ideally their own room too

Norovirus

Norovirus, sometimes called the ‘winter vomiting bug’ because it is more common in winter will make you feel extremely unwell. The virus is characterised by diarrhoea, being sick (vomiting) and stomach pain. Some will also experience a high temperature, a headache and feeling achy.  In public places the virus is spread very easily, typically hospitals, care homes, hotels and schools which may be via person to person contact, touching a contaminated surface or eating contaminated food. Neglecting hygiene procedures in such organisations will allow the infection to spread.

For most people, norovirus usually clears up within a few days and isn’t a threat to life however for those people with compromised immune systems the infection can lead to dehydration. Sadly there is no treatment for this virus, it just has to run its course.

Surgical infection

Surgical site infections (SSI) are defined as infections that begin at the site of a surgical wound fewer than 30 days after the incision was made. The infection occurs when germs enter the body and multiply, germs that were around you during surgery on unsterilized equipment or on the hands of the surgical team. Infected wounds may have a discharge of pus coming from them, redness, swelling and will be painful to touch. Other symptoms include nausea and a fever. If an infection is not promptly diagnosed and treated the body may trigger a response whereby the immune system goes into overdrive prompting widespread clotting. The body responding in this way is known as Sepsis, a life threatening condition.

Most SSI’s respond well to antibiotics although in some cases more surgery is required. All doctors, nurses and care workers must adhere to strict standards of hygiene and a duty of care to limit the risks of infection as far as is reasonably possible. Post-operative infection remains to be a recognised risk of any surgery and therefore in a number of cases there is no basis for a claim however there is no excuse for failing to adhere to infection control procedures or failing to identify post-operative wounds/infection quickly.

Urinary infection

According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, catheter associated urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common kinds of hospital caught infections affecting more women than men. A urinary catheter is a tube that is threaded through the urethra into the bladder allowing urine to drain into a bag. Infection occurs when bacteria travels along the inside and/or outside of the tube. Whilst infection of the bladder may be painful it is not considered serious, only if the infection spreads to the kidney does it have serious consequences. The biggest risk factor for developing such infections therefore is the prolonged use of the catheter. It is so important to remove the catheter when no longer needed and essential that it is done in a clean sterile environment.

When you have a UTI the lining of the bladder and urethra become irritated and this irritation can cause pain in the lower back and lower abdomen pelvic area. Burning when urinating is the most common symptom. You may even have an urge to urinate but nothing happens. If the infection reaches the kidney it can often make you feel nauseous and experience back pain to one side or the other. These infections need treating urgently to avoid the spread to the bloodstream where it can become life threatening.

Skin and soft tissue infection

Staph is short for Staphylococcus bacteria which is a germ that could be living on our skin right now. On the whole there is nothing to worry about, it is only when the germ makes its way inside our bodies that problems arise. Staph infections in the skin are typified by pus-filled swollen skin blemishes, other common ones include impetigo, boils and cellulitis, only becoming more serious the deeper into the body they go and entering the bloodstream, lungs or heart. These are known as invasive staph infections and if they aren’t treated quickly can become life threatening. A simple cut is enough to let this germ into your body. Ingesting contaminated food is another way for Staphylococcus to enter the system. Such infections are serious and ironically the one place you go to get better (a hospital) is the one place where the germ is most abundant. The most effective way to avoid staph infection is therefore to ensure good hygiene practice both yourself and ensuring those looking after you in hospital are adhering to strict hygiene practices also. Surgery results in the skin being breached and allowing such organisms in, with surgical instruments passing through the body providing access to new sites where infection could establish. Instruments therefore must be completely sterile alongside strict hand hygiene.

Infection of the bloodstream

Hospital acquired infections can trigger Sepsis, a potentially life threatening condition. Sepsis occurs when the body’s defence system fights back against the infection. Large numbers of chemicals are released into the blood during this process triggering changes to its flow and depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. In severe cases multiple organs can be damaged. If blood pressure drops dramatically and progresses to ‘septic shock’ organs can start to fail and tragically lead to death. Anyone can get Sepsis but those that are hospitalised and/or had major surgery are at a particular risk having been exposed to invasive devices such as intravenous or urinary catheters. People with weakened immune systems such as those having chemotherapy are also considered a high risk.

Although standards are in place to maintain safe and sterile environments in hospital unfortunately they can fall below these standards. If you have suffered as a result of a hospital acquired infection the best thing to do would be to talk this over with one of our compassionate, experienced solicitors. We will be able to advise you on the possibility of claiming. Our number is free to call – we’re here to help.

Call us now on 0800 122 3130 or click here to start your claim.