Personal Injury Law

Hospital ?Superbugs? Put Some Patients in Peril

By Jamie G. Goldstein

In today's world, few Americans have reason to lose sleep over the possibility of a bacterial infection. Once a leading cause of death, bacterial infections are now usually easily cleared up by a prescription of antibiotics. But what if the antibiotics you took didn't work? That's the problem many hospitalized patients who contract so-called 'superbugs' of deadly antibiotic resistant bacteria are facing. Hospital patients have always been exposed to risk of death by infection but have generally been treatable. Now, certain deadly forms of bacteria transmitted in hospitals are completely resistance to all forms of FDA-approved antibiotics, leaving doctors and patients with few treatment options. Usually when a bacteria overcomes built-up antibiotic resistances, drug companies will develop a new product, but this is no longer the case. Bacteria are typically transmitted by hospital staff to patients from contact with an open wound or hospital devices. These infections can be particularly lethal to older patients whose immune systems are already vulnerable.

Hospitals appear to be losing the battle against these bacteria, which now account for approximately 60 percent of infections in intensive care units. One superbug in particular, KPC-Klebsiella, first discovered only 10 years ago has now been reported in hospitals in over 35 states. This strain is particularly virulent as it contains an enzyme that inactivates carbapenem antibiotics.

Proper sterilization in hospitals is essential in preventing these types of infections. The health care industry needs to ensure that personnel wash their hands before any initial patient contact as well as between patients. One study shows nearly 60% of health care workers do not wash their hands while on the job. In light of the increasing mortality associated with these infections and lack of available treatment, hand washing needs to become more regulated. Hospitals also need to be required to report their infection rates so the spread of these bacteria can be tracked.

Full post as published by Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer on October 05, 2010 (boomark / email).