Patients Still Face Risk of Deadly Hospital-Acquired Infections

Thanks to an increased focus on patient safety and minimization of infection risks, American hospitals have reduced the rates of common hospital-acquired infections. However, our Seattle medical malpractice attorneys believe that more progress can be achieved.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found a drop of 17 percent in postsurgical infections from 2008 to 2011. The agency also reported a 41 percent decrease in infections linked to contaminated catheters that are placed in the neck, chest or groin to deliver drugs or nutrients. These infections are also called central line-associated bloodstream infections.

Central lines are inserted to deliver nutrition and medications quickly to a patient. While these lines are essential for intensive patient care, they also ensure that any infection caused by a contaminated catheter is transmitted very quickly. These infections result in fatalities and injuries among patients every year.

In 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services set a goal of reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections by 50 percent and reducing postsurgical infections by 25 percent. The department, however, has fallen short of its goals. An estimated one in 20 American patients contracts a hospital-acquired infection every year. That includes 41,000 bloodstream infections.

While the progress is encouraging, more must be done to reduce the risk of bloodstream infections. The lives of patients are at stake.

The Seattle medical malpractice lawyers at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC represent victims of medical negligence by doctors, nurses, technicians and other medical personnel throughout Seattle.