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Hospital Infections - Drug Resistant Bacteria

Each year over 1.7 million Americans will get a drug-resistant infection from a hospital and 100,000 of them will die. In the United States, more people die from hospital infections than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Thousands of other victims of hospital infections escape death but are left with serious life altering injuries including paralysis. Disturbingly most of these infections can be prevented through the implementation of stricter sanitary and bacterial testing procedures.  If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a serious infection during or after a hospital stay contact Parker & Waichman, LLP today to have an attorney evaluate your case.

Shocking Hospital Infection Statistics

•    2 million patients get health care associated infections each year
•    100,000 deaths from health care/hospital infections each year
•    $30 billion spent to treat health care/hospital infections each year

Hospital infections are commonly drug resistant and lethal. The bacteria in these infections replicate and mutate so aggressively that even the most potent antibiotics can not kill them. The most common strains of lethal bacteria found in hospital patients are detailed below:

Methicllin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) – This strain of lethal staphylococcus or staph is responsible for approximately 120,00 hospital infections per year. Patients can die within days of being infected.

Psedomonas aeruginosa – This deadly strain of bacteria causes lower respiratory infections. It is responsible for 18% of hospital acquired pneumonia and is incredibly resistant to antibiotics.

Klebsiella pneumoniae – Lethal hospital-borne bug that infects the urinary tract, bloodstream and gut. Reported cases are up 50% in the last five years and there is a 66% mortality rate in untreated patients.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) – Responsible for 10% of all hospital infections. Bacteria usually infects the blood, urinary tract and wounds. Patients with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible to infection.

Clostridium difficile – Linked to 400,000 cases of severe diarrhea each year. New mutation of this bacteria produces 20 times the toxin of the old version. Infection is often fatal.

Free Lawsuit Case Consultation
If you or a loved one has suffered from a hospital-borne bacterial infection you may have valuable legal rights. Complete the case evaluation form on the right of this page to have your case immediately evaluated by a qualified attorney. If you prefer to call Parker & Waichman, LLP, you can call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) 24 hours per day.