Denver Healthcare-Associated Infection Attorneys
Should You Pursue a Medical Malpractice Claim After an HAI in Colorado?
Hospitals are supposed to be sterile, but at any given time, about one in 25 patients has an infection related to their care. These infections cost tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars each year in the United States, and many are due to errors on the part of medical staff. For example, Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. represented patients at a Denver-area hospital who were exposed to HIV, hepatitis, and other bloodborne pathogens through unsterilized surgical instruments.
If you suspect your medical care made you sicker, please call us at (303) 759-9945. Our top Colorado medical malpractice lawyers will investigate and see if you have a strong case for compensation against the negligent healthcare providers. We accept cases nationwide.
What Is a Healthcare-Associated Infection?
Healthcare-associated infections, also known as hospital-acquired infections or HAIs, are infections patients get while under the care of a medical facility. They typically occur in hospitals, surgical centers, and long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. HAIs can be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or other pathogens. HAIs are commonly contracted through the following treatments or scenarios:
- Catheters (bloodstream, endotracheal, and urinary)
- Surgery
- Injections
- Unsanitary healthcare settings
- Unsanitary devices or instruments
- Wounds that aren’t cleaned and cared for attentively, such as bedsores
- Communicable diseases passed between patients and healthcare workers, who do not take the time to sanitize themselves before interacting with other patients
The overuse of antibiotics in U.S. hospitals has created more potent infections, which are generally antibiotic-resistant. Patients are most likely to get the following healthcare-associated infections:
- Central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
- Pneumonia
- Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections
- Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections
- Surgical site infections
- Urinary tract infections
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are some of the most common HAIs, according to Health.gov.
When Is an HAI Medical Malpractice?
When an infection is contracted during treatment and cannot be associated with the patient’s specific condition, medical malpractice is probably to blame. Our nationally recognized trial lawyers can investigate exactly how the infection was acquired, why it may not have been promptly treated, and how it should have been prevented.
There are many ways in which an error can cause an infection – for example, the use of contaminated water for sterilizing hospital equipment, poor personal hygiene by a staff member, or the misuse of antibiotics.
It will be Leventhal Puga Braley P.C.’s job to prove four elements of medical malpractice in order to demonstrate liability and collect compensation for you:
- Medical duty: The responsible doctor or hospital had an obligation to meet the standard of care.
- Breach of duty: The doctor or hospital failed to meet the recognized standard of care.
- Causation: The doctor or hospital’s misconduct was a cause of your injury.
- Damages: You suffered from a healthcare-associated infection that caused you harm.
Work with an Experienced Denver HAI Attorney
It is the responsibility of healthcare facilities to provide an environment that helps prevent healthcare-associated infections. From properly disinfected equipment to proper use of antibiotics, hospitals have a duty to prevent HAIs.
If you believe a facility caused your infection, you should contact an experienced Denver hospital-acquired infection lawyer as quickly as possible. Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. has been fighting for decades to hold medical professionals accountable for their errors, and help victims recover their lives. For a no-cost evaluation of your case, please contact our Denver office at (303) 759-9945 today.
Additional Information
- CLABSIs: What Are They?
- Catheters And The Risk Of Infection
- Health Care Facility Infection Data - Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
- Health Care-Associated Infections - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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