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Hospital acquired infection compensation

Helping people affected by NHS Negligence. Call us today for free impartial advice.

You put your complete trust in the hospital and expect that you will be cared for and restored back to health. We all know things can go wrong and mistakes can be made however there has been a gradual increase in incidents of infections acquired at hospitals. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimate that around 300,000 patients each year contract infections during their hospital stay, sometimes due to negligence. We can help investigate your case for compensation if you have suffered an infection as a result of the negligence of the NHS or hospital. Call our medical negligence specialists on 0333 987 4161 to discuss your possible No Win, No Fee compensation claim.

You should not have to burden the loss of income, a prolonged recovery period or the need for further surgery due to an infection that was acquired from hospital negligence. Find out more about how to sue a hospital.

How hospital acquired infections occur

Most hospital acquired infections are usually transmitted through contact with an infected person. Bacteria can also spread through contaminated devices such as ventilators or catheters.

Increased risk of infection

Hospital patients are more vulnerable to infection than others. Those more at risk include:

  • Patients with existing health conditions such as diabetes.
  • Patients with a weakened immune system – various diseases can compromise the immune system and chemotherapy treatment or steroids can reduce the body’s natural defence.
  • The frail and the elderly.
  • Sick children and premature babies. Premature babies are particularly at risk because their immune systems haven’t fully matured.
  • Long stay patients – staying for longer periods of time allows more time to become exposed to infection.

Some of the most common hospital acquired infections or “superbugs” include:

  • MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)
  • C. Difficile Infections (Clostridium difficile)
  • Enterococcal infections – can cause a variety of infections including urinary tract infections (UTI), endocarditis, bacteraemia and meningitis.
  • Acinetobacter infections – a difficult-to-treat pathogen which can cause infections including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, meningitis, catheter-related infections and wound infections.

Can you make a claim?

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    How do you get MRSA?

    MRSA is often spread from skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. MRSA can also live on the skin and be spread to sheets, clothing, dressings, handles and surfaces, even floors.

    Often bacteria spreads more easily to patients staying in hospital and recovering from operations. MRSA bacteria spreads more easily to patients with catheters and surgial wounds. Some patients might have existing health problems that make them more vulnerable to infection.

    There is a possibility that you were infected outside of a hospital however this is unusual.

    MRSA symptoms

    Symptoms vary depending on which part or your body is infected. If skin and soft issue is infected  and MRSA infects the deeper layers of skin this can often present itself as an abscess ( boil ) typically causing:

    • Swelling and tenderness
    • Redness of the skin
    • Pus and discharge
    • General pain and discomfort

    Sometimes MRSA can be more invasive and cause much more serious complications when the bacteria invades deeper into the body. Some common symptoms are:

    • High Temperature & Chills ( Temperatures of 38c 100.4F and above )
    • Confusion
    • Dizziness
    • Muscular aches and pains
    • Pain and swelling local to the infectection

    Invasive MRSA can often infect blood ( sepsis / septic shock ), skin ( septic busitis ), lungs ( pneumonia ), joint infections and even bone infections. The good news is although serious MRSA is rarely fatal.

    Have you suffered as a result of failings hospital negligence, and contracted MRSA?

    When your hospital fails to follow infection control policies then you and other patients could be at risk. Have you suffered as a result of those failings and then contracted MRSA, then call us today and we will give advice and see if you are eligible to make a claim for compensation.

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