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Hospital Acquired Infections

If you or a member of your family has contracted a hospital acquired infection, such as MRSA, C-Diff or GRE, you may be entitled to make a medical negligence claim.

Contact The Legal Line on 0800 0328511, or by completing an online claim enquiry form, for cost-free, confidential advice from our specialist personal injury lawyers.

Healthcare Associated Infections
MRSA
Clostridium Difficile
GRE
Making a Compensation Claim for a Hospital Acquired Infection
Our Medical Negligence Lawyers

Healthcare Associated Infections

There are various infections that can be contracted whilst receiving treatment at medical establishments. For the most part it is possible to prevent patients contracting these infections, with the use of preventative measures.

Infections can be transmitted through physical contact, either with other patients, medical staff or contaminated surfaces. They are often contracted via surgical wounds or at catheter or drip sites and certain, more vulnerable patients (e.g. the elderly, young children and those with compromised immune systems or conditions such as pneumonia) are also more susceptible.

It is vitally important that stringent standards of cleanliness and infection control procedures are upheld at hospitals, care homes and other healthcare facilities.

Some of the most well known hospital acquired infections are MRSA, GRE and clostridium difficile, details of which can be found below.

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MRSA

About MRSA: Perhaps the most widely publicised hospital acquired infection is MRSA, or methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. The MRSA bacteria is quite common and many people carry it on the surface of their skin or in their nose. This is known as colonisation and most healthy people who are colonised do not actually become unwell. If MRSA gets into the body or bloodstream through an opening in the skin however it can cause serious infections and, as it is resistant to many drugs, it can be more difficult to treat than other infections.

Spread of Infection: Although it is possible to contract MRSA anywhere, it is commonly found in hospitals and nursing homes. Transmission can occur through patient to patient contact, or often where the bacteria is transferred by contact with staff who have failed to take sufficient precautions to prevent the spread of infection (such as using hand gels or ‘barrier nursing’ procedures). It is also possible to contract MRSA from surfaces and equipment that have not been thoroughly cleaned / sterilised.

Anyone can contract MRSA, however patients recovering from surgery, those with open wounds or burns, people with a weakened immune system and patients who are taking or have recently taken antibiotics, run an increased risk.

Prevention: There are actions that can be taken to reduce the risk of patients contracting MRSA. These include:

• Use of antiseptic hand gels and regular hand washing
• Use of disposable gloves
• Isolation of patients with a known or suspected MRSA infection
• Stringent cleaning of wards and facilities
• Screening / swabbing patients for MRSA before elective surgery

It is mandatory for all UK Hospital Trusts to have protocols in place to reduce the number of MRSA cases and there is a national surveillance programme for all hospitals to monitor MRSA infection rates. National guidelines are also set out in the Code of Practice in the Healthcare Act 2006.

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Clostridium Difficile

About C-Diff: Clostridium difficile, often known as C-diff or C-difficile, is a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal problems. In most cases it causes mild to severe diarrhoea but in some there can be even more serious consequences, such as colitis or life-threatening peritonitis.

It is possible to diagnose a c-diff infection by testing a stool sample of the affected person.

Spread of Infection: Like MRSA, C-diff can be contracted anywhere but there is a higher incidence of infections in hospitals and nursing homes. Although it is possible for anyone to contract the infection, patients with underlying illnesses are at a greater risk, as are the elderly and those who have recently taken broad spectrum antibiotics.

C-diff is spread through spores found in the faeces of infected people. Direct contact between patients, indirect contact between patients through hospital staff or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects are all ways in which the infection can be transmitted.

Prevention: Guidelines were issued by the Department of Health, outlining the most important principles for controlling the incidence of clostridium difficile infections, as follows:

• Strict cleaning of the hospital / care home environment. This is especially important as c-diff can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. Measures that were emphasised as especially important were the use of aprons and gloves, particularly when handling bed pans and faeces, regular hand washing and the use of chlorine-based disinfectant.
• Care should be taken when prescribing antibiotics. If the use of broad spectrum antibiotics is reduced this should help to lower the amount of people at a higher risk of contracting the infection.
• Patients with C-diff infections should be isolated.

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GRE

About GRE: GRE, or glycopeptide resistant enterococci are a type of enterococci bacteria that are resistant to glycopeptide antibiotics. Enterococci bacteria often reside harmlessly in the bowels of healthy individuals.

Most enterococci infections are caused by two particular species of the bacteria, enterococcus faecium and enterococcus faecalis. Infections are rare in healthy patients, generally only affecting those who are already in a poor state of health.

GRE can cause serious infections in various parts of the body, including the heart valves, urinary tract, abdomen and bile duct, as well as wound infections and septicaemia. Although many antibiotics are ineffective against GRE, it can be treated with certain specific antibiotics.

Spread of Infection: GRE infections most commonly occur in hospitals, particularly amongst patients with compromised immune systems, those in intensive care or renal units or patients who are in hospital for long periods of time, however infections can affect anyone.

GRE can be transmitted through direct patient to patient contact, contaminated items or cross contamination via hospital staff. An infection can also be contracted however if the bacteria moves from the bowel to other parts of the body. Health care providers are unable to prevent this from happening.

Prevention: The main method of preventing GRE infections, according to Health Protection Agency guidelines, is to use enhanced cleaning procedures and employ a practice of washing hands before and after visiting any patients. Together with the Department of Health they are researching ways to monitor and combat GRE.

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Making a Compensation Claim for a Hospital Acquired Infection

If you believe that you have received sub-standard medical care and you have developed a healthcare associated infection as a result, you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim against the Hospital Trust.

It is important to seek advice from a specialist lawyer at the earliest opportunity. They can collate all of the necessary information and evidence to bring your claim and advise you on the best way forward.

You should try to record as much information as possible, including details of any medical treatment you have received and any expenses you have incurred relating to your illness.

In every case, medical evidence will be required and it is necessary to show that the person you are making a claim against owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care (were negligent), and that the illness you sustained was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence.

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Our Medical Negligence Lawyers

The Legal Line lawyers are experts in all areas of personal injury, with extensive experience in recovering compensation for the victims of hospital acquired infections caused by medical negligence. They can provide specialist injury claim advice, assistance and guidance in helping you to pursue your claim to the best possible outcome.

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