One area of medical malpractice that is often overlooked by the general public is that of infections. However, healthcare-associated infections - sometimes referred to as nosocomial infections or hospital-acquired infections - are a real threat to the health and safety of patients in many healthcare settings (hospitals, surgical centers, birthing centers, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, correctional institutions, etc.).

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), healthcare-associated infections are actually one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The NCSL estimates that on an annual basis healthcare-associated infections affect more than 1.7 million people and account for roughly 99,000 deaths.

However, the NCSL also indicates that overall impact of healthcare-associated infections is not just limited to patient health. Healthcare-associated infections can also extract significant societal and financial costs.

To illustrate, two very common healthcare-associated infections, pneumonia (an infection of the lungs) and sepsis (an infection found in the bloodstream), can result in significant losses. According to an NCSL report (citing a medical study that examined hospital discharge data from around the nation), almost 48,000 people die from either pneumonia or sepsis contracted while in the hospital on an annual basis. In addition, the costs of treating these two infections can reach upwards of $8.1 billion each year.

It is also worth noting that the incidence of "microbial resistant" healthcare-associated infections is growing rapidly. According to reports:

• The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as MRSA, has risen from 2 percent to more than 50 percent in many hospitals across the nation

• The incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae has increased from .02 percent in 1987 to more than 20 percent in 2004

The next post will continue to explore this topic, including measures being implemented to combat the growing problem of healthcare-associated infections ...

If you lost a loved one to what you believe was medical malpractice or a failure to diagnose or treat an infection, you should strongly consider contacting an experienced legal professional.

This post was for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal or medical advice.

Related Resources:

• Lessons From the Pioneers: Reporting Healthcare-Associated Infections (The National Conference of State Legislatures)