Which Patient Is at the Greatest Risk for Hospital-Acquired Infection?

Individuals may need to go to the hospital for injuries and illnesses at some point. These hospital visits could be for fractured bones, nausea, fevers, concussions, surgeries, pain, and other sudden and severe situations that arise. However, the unfortunate reality is that when you visit the hospital for any reason, you are in close quarters of many other sick or ill patients who are most likely contagious.

Regardless of this, doctors, nurses, and other medical providers and staff members are required to follow certain protocols or procedures to avoid or prevent the spread of these illnesses, germs, and diseases. If a mistake or error is made in the process, individuals who visit the hospital for an entirely different reason may acquire an infection that could cause complications for the rest of their lives.

What is a hospital-acquired infection?

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), hospital-acquired infections are “nosocomial acquired infections that are not present or incubating at the time of admission to a hospital.” Therefore, if you visit a Washington, DC hospital and develop an infection soon after, you likely acquired that infection from a doctor, nurse, or another healthcare provider treating you and other sick patients during your visit. The hospital-acquired infection was likely passed onto you by entering your body through the bloodstream, lungs, digestive tract, skin, or other areas.

Which patient is at the greatest risk for hospital-acquired infection?

Even though anyone can contract a hospital-acquired infection, some patients are at greater risk than others, such as:

• Elderly patients who are 60 years of age and older
• Patients who have visited or been admitted to the hospital for a serious illness or condition in the past two years
• Young children who are sick
• People with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, autoimmune diseases, and more
• People who have undergone medical procedures or surgeries
• Patients who have received cancer treatments (chemotherapy) or steroids in the past couple of years
• Patients who have or have had some type of device that enters their body, such as a catheter, breathing tube, drain tube, or more

These patients are considered to be at the highest risk for hospital-acquired infections because their immune systems are likely compromised, which means that they are more susceptible to many illnesses, diseases, and conditions. Unfortunately, when these types of individuals contract a hospital-acquired infection, it can be extremely difficult to treat because their immune system is already low, resulting in lifelong complications or even death.

What type of protocol are hospitals and medical providers required to follow to avoid spreading germs?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists specific procedures for hospitals and medical providers to follow to avoid spreading germs, diseases, and other illnesses. Some of the required protocols include:

• Use an alcohol-based soap or hand wash along with water on the hands before touching any patient, before performing any task, before handling a medical device or tool, after touching a patient’s body, after coming into contact with blood or fluids, after touching a potentially contaminated surface or object, and right after removing gloves.
• Clean and disinfect any tool, surface, or device that the patient may have touched or that was in close proximity to the patient.
• Clean up all spills, blood, or bodily fluids off floors and surfaces.
• Only prepare medications in a clean space that is away from any types of germs or contamination.
• Disinfect all diaphragms of medication vials before placing the device into the vial.
• Only use one needle, syringe, fluid infusion, or administration set per patient.
• Always change needles and syringes, even when retrieving additional doses for the same patient.
• Multidose vials should be only used for a single patient when possible. If a multidose vial is used for multiple patients, the medication vials are required to be stored in a centralized medication area. This means that the medical provider should never bring these multidose vials into any patient’s area where germs could be.
• Always wear a facemask when giving an injection, placing a catheter, or giving anesthesia to the epidural or subdural area of the body.
• Wear gloves when it is known or expected to come into contact with blood, bodily fluids, contaminated skin, or contaminated equipment or devices.
• Wear a gown that protects the skin and prevents contact with blood and other bodily fluids.
• Wear a facemask and eyewear that protects the eyes, mouth, and nose during any medical procedures.
• Always remove and throw away facemasks, eyewear, and other personal protective equipment before leaving the patient’s room.
• Never use the same gloves, gown, facemasks, or eyewear for more than one patient.
• Never wash gloves to reuse, and always remove and throw away gloves after completing a task or when they become soiled with bodily fluids.

How do I know if my illness is a hospital-acquired infection?

It can be very difficult to know whether you have a hospital-acquired infection. This usually requires an in-depth investigation into your case, which determines the following:

• The illness or infection emerged within a few days of being discharged from the hospital.
• The illness or infection emerged within a few days of being admitted to the hospital.
• The illness or infection emerged within a few weeks after a medical procedure or surgery.

If any of these are true, there is a strong possibility that you may have a hospital-acquired infection.

Can you sue a hospital for an infection that you acquired?

As mentioned, most hospitals have protocols in place to prevent the spread of infections, germs, illnesses, and diseases. Therefore, if the hospital does not follow this protocol and a patient acquires an infection that they did not have before entering or becoming admitted to the hospital, they may be able to file a lawsuit against the hospital and hold them accountable for their damages. This is considered negligent behavior, which can be a form of medical malpractice.

It can be difficult to build a strong medical malpractice case against a hospital for a hospital-acquired infection, which is why it is recommended to hire an attorney who can legally assist you. They will determine whether a doctor-patient relationship was established, whether you received the standard level of care and treatment, whether you had the illness or infection before you entered the hospital, and whether the hospital or other providers failed to follow protocol or take the necessary precautions to prevent spreading the illness or infection. This information is extremely important to establish a medical malpractice claim or lawsuit and obtain the fair and accurate compensation you need and deserve for your long-term damages.

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