Did you know that an estimated one in 20 patients pick up infections at medical facilities in the United States? These are infections that patients did not have at arrival. Moreover, some are incredibly difficult to treat.
Hospitals are trying to reduce the spread of infections. For example, some medical facilities have robots that emit UV lights or hydrogen peroxide vapors to combat disease. Such products help keep rooms sterile. However, there is no concrete evidence that suggests that these methods prevent infections.
Hospital infections are linked to an estimated 100,000 fatalities every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The hygiene at a hospital has been a concern for a while. However, the latest issue concerns the emergence of an intestinal bug called Clostridium difficile (C-diff).
C-diff is responsible for approximately 14,000 deaths in the country each year. The diarrhea-causing bug has been the motivation behind infection control. C-diff is easier to treat than some other hospital infections, but it is difficult to eliminate in medical centers.
Ultimately, when hospitals are not clean, they risk harming patients that come in and out for treatment. Unsanitary conditions create more issues for already struggling individuals. While there is no concrete, proven way to eliminate some of the issues associated with hospital infections, medical professionals, and other healthcare providers have a duty to exercise due care in treatment of people. One negligent move could compromise a patient's health.
If you believe you have been harmed in the medical environment, you may benefit from speaking with a medical malpractice attorney. A lawyer could help you decipher whether you are entitled to recovery.