Drug Resistant Infections in Hospitals. Each year over 1.7 million Americans will get a drug-resistant infection from a hospital and 99,000 of them will die. Other estimates indicate 2 million patients a year become infected, with annual costs ranging from $4.5 billion to $11 billion. In the USA, the most frequent type of infection hospital-wide is urinary tract infection (36%), followed by surgical site infection (20%), and bloodstream infection and pneumonia (both 11%).
Thousands of victims of hospital acquired 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.
Hospital Infections Statistics
- 1.7 million patients contract hospital infections annually
- MRSA is responsible for 120,000 hospital infections every year
- $4.5 billion to $11 billion a year is spent on treating hospital infections
Types of Hospital Infections
Hospital infections are commonly drug resistant and lethal. The bacteria in these infections replicate and mutate so aggressively that even the most potent antibiotics cannot 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 120,000 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 pneumonia: 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.
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 Case Consultation With an Experienced Infections in Hospitals?
If you or a loved one has suffered from one or more hospital bacterial infections you may have valuable legal rights. Complete the case evaluation form on the right of this page to have your case evaluated by a qualified medical malpractice attorney If you prefer to call Parker Waichman LLP, LLP, you can call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) 24 hours per day.
