Hospital-acquired infections that can kill you

You might think of the hospital as the safest place to be when your body is vulnerable, but the opposite may be true.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 75,000 Americans die from infections they developed during a hospital stay.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a respiratory tract infection that affects the lungs. Hospital-acquired pneumonia generally occurs as a result of a bacterial infection, rather than a virus. The risk factors for contracting this deadly disease include:

• Visiting a hospital clinic or dialysis center
• Receiving home wound care
• Taking antibiotics or chemotherapy intravenously
• Staying in an acute care facility
• Residing in a nursing home or long-term care center
• Associating with carriers of drug-resistant pathogens

Sepsis

Patients with open wounds from an injury or surgery are at risk for infectious pathogens that infiltrate the bloodstream and weaken the immune system. Septicemia, or sepsis, is a life-threatening infection that can extend your hospital stay for months, especially if you are older or immunocompromised in any way.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

MRSA is a type of staph infection that has become resistant to Penicillin and related antibiotics, making it extremely difficult to treat. Undetected or uncontrolled, MRSA can spread through the body and attack vital organs, causing severe pain and even death.

Because deadly pathogens thrive in hospital environments, healthcare professionals have a responsibility to follow strict hygiene and disinfection protocols. When medical staff members fail to uphold safety standards, leading to the serious injury or death of a patient, it could be a sign of medical malpractice.