MRSA Infections: What You Need To Know To Prevent Medical Injury

I just posted an article about the tragic death of a newborn that contracted MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in a Richmond, Virginia hospital. MRSA deaths are on the rise in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 3.5 million infections diagnosed each year which cause over 90,000 deaths.

MRSA is considered a superbug which means it is resistant to many antibiotics. In the last 10 years, there has been a 90 percent increase in MRSA and other superbug infections in the United States. The CDC reports that MRSA infections accounted for just 2% of the total number of staph infections in 1974; but, the percentage had grown to 22% by 1995, and 63% in 2004.

At one time it was thought that most MRSA infections are harmless, and that serious illness was only a risk for those with compromised immune systems, such as the elderly, infants, and people suffering from cancer and other illnesses. But, in 2007, news of an MRSA death in an otherwise-healthy 17-year-old boy in Virginia changed that perception. MRSA infections can be fatal even among the general population.

More than 85% of serious MRSA infections are contracted in a healthcare setting such as a clinic, nursing home or hospital.

MRSA usually starts as small red bumps that look like pimples or spider bites. These bumps turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. In most cases, the bacteria remains confined to the skin, but the infection can burrow deep into the body, causing infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.

If you have been in a health care setting, keep an eye on any skin problems: pimples, insect bites, cuts and scrapes. If they seem to be infected, see a doctor.

Hospitals are by nature full of germs. It is a hospital’s responsibility to control the spread of those germs and protect patients from infections such a MRSA. Contracting MRSA while in a hospital means the hospital may have been negligent in following procedures to reduce the risk of patient infection. In this case, patients and their families may be able to file a Virginia medical malpractice lawsuit.

Norfolk medical malpractice attorney Lawrence Land represents victims of all types of medical malpractice. If you believe you were injured in a hospital or health care facility, contact Lawrence Land at 757-251-0198 to schedule a free legal consultation.

To learn more about medical malpractice, download Lawrence Land’s free book about personal injury law: “5 Deadly Sins That Can Destroy Your Injury Claim.”