MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterial infection becoming more and more common throughout the U.S. Recently, it’s become an area of concern among care facilities like hospitals and nursing homes.
Often recognized as a “staph infection”, MRSA is caused by Steaphylococcus aureus, a highly common bacteria that is present on the skin or in the nose of every 1 in 3 people. A Staph infection evolves into MRSA when it becomes resistant to typical antibiotics, meaning the bacteria no longer responds to general antibiotics, and requires hospital-strength antibiotics and nursing care for treatment.
MRSA infections often happen in nursing homes because of the number of residents in close quarters and because so many of those residents require regular medical care, wound treatment, and help with incontinence, which encourages the spread of germs across the facility. Unsanitary conditions or insufficient cleaning standards can result in an increased likelihood for older adults in these facilities.
If a loved one has been injured or hospitalized due to a MRSA infection that they received while under the care of a medical professional or nursing home, contact Pope & Howard in Atlanta today. We’ve helped families across Georgia seek compensation for catastrophic personal injuries.
MRSA, because of its resistance to antibiotics, can cause more serious complications than the typical staph infection. It can lead to blood infections, sepsis, pneumonia, skin infections, wound infections, and in some cases, death. Because these complications so often occur in hospitals and long-term care facilities, they have specifically named this type of MRSA as health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA).
Older adults are often the greatest victims of because they are at higher risk with weakened immune systems, more frequent antibiotic use, and with higher likelihood of invasive surgeries and medical devices (e.g. catheters). A serious MRSA infection can manifest in symptoms that include chest pain, fever, headache, fatigue or lethargy, shortness of breath, rash (especially in blood infections or sepsis), and chills.
Because MRSA infections are resistant to antibiotics, they are difficult to overcome, with even hospital-grade antibiotics sometimes having limited effects. When this happens, it can cause long-term complications or even death. To complicate matters, if MRSA is contracted in a health care setting (e.g. nursing care or hospitals), it brings into question the standards of care of the caregiving facility.
If you have a loved one that suffered from a MRSA infection that was contracted in a healthcare setting and they sustained injury, an extensive hospital stay, or other long-term damages, contact the elder care and nursing home abuse attorneys at Pope & Howard in Atlanta. We help families seek compensation for injuries, damages, medical bills and loss. Call us toll-free at (404) 885-9999.
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