MRSA, the superbug that won’t go away.
MRSA is an horrendous infection and is made worse by the fact that it is most commonly picked up in hospitals; an environment that is supposed to prevent those who are ill suffering from further infection. It means that if you are already ill, contracting the MRSA infection could mean the visit to hospital that was supposed to aid your recovery could end up with you being worse off. In worst case scenarios, people have gone into hospital for minor treatment, contracted the ‘super bug’ and have died as a result. This is most common amongst children and the elderly, who have weaker immune systems and are at much higher risk.
MRSA has been around since the 1960’s, so it isn’t a new infection although it has been given a lot more press coverage in recent years. However, it is believed that standards of cleanliness in hospitals are lower now than in the past, and that this is making the infection more prevalent. The people at most risk are the elderly and people who are already ill. This is because their immune systems are generally weaker, so their bodies are less able to fight off the added MRSA infection. People with open wounds are also at risk as this is one route that the infection uses to enter the body.
Once someone has contracted the infection, then urgent steps need to be taken by the hospital involved. The patient needs to be isolated and moved away from other patients. As the infection is extremely contagious, this needs to be done immediately. The site of the infection on the patient’s body needs to be treated without delay. It needs to be washed and cleaned to prevent any infection spreading to other areas of the body. Everyone who comes into contact with the patient needs to ensure that they follow basic safety procedures, such as washing hands thoroughly, so as not to spread the infection. Obviously at any of these stages negligence, albeit unintentional, can cause the situation to worsen.
Despite improvements in hospital cleanliness, such as the introduction of alcohol based hand washes and stricter ‘deep cleaning’ procedures, it is believed that cases of MRSA are on the rise. This is contrary to the government’s claims to have the infection contained and under control. It is thought that two thirds of hospitals in the UK are failing to meet the government targets to wipe the infection out. In around one in seven hospitals, cases of MRSA are on the increase. It is also thought that the actual number of MRSA cases is greater than official figures suggest because not all cases are being reported.
If you contract the MRSA virus you are fully within your rights to make a claim through a specialist claims company. Although the infection can be treated with antibiotics, there can still be lasting effects on the patient. If you decide to make a claim then you should approach a specialist solicitor who has experience in the field of medical negligence and specifically MRSA cases. They will be able to offer advice and guide you through the claim process smoothly and easily.
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