User-Submitted Article: Investigation Finds Flaws In Hospital Routines; Hospital Hygiene At Fault!

Twice recentlyI have noted the dangers of hospital practices in a blog post. Now, an observant reader-Doug C. from Alaska-pointed to my attention another interesting article. Thank you for sharing, Doug!

This article reported on a study out of Alaska which found that some hospital employees actually did NOT wash their hands after the bathrooms, and did not properly wear their medical gowns. In fact, after an outbreak an observational study found that this incorrect hand-washing and gown-wearing occurred about thirty-one percent of the time; THIRTY-ONE!

But more importantly was what the impetus was for the this observational study. That "outbreak" was a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA, which is a very resistant bacterial infection. What's worse? That outbreak occurred in the hospital's newborn intensive care unit!

Mild infections were detected in fourteen of the infants, and another thirty-four had been carrying the bacteria but showed no signs of infection. To put this into perspective, that hospital usually sees at MOST twelve MRSA infections in a YEAR.

But what makes MRSA so dangerous? Well, it is very difficult to treat infection and is resistant to antibiotics such as the penicillins and cephalosporins, which are both typically very powerful and curing treatments for bacterial infections. While most people actually do have MRSA on their bodies at some point or another, their immune system prevents the infection from causing any trouble. However, for an individual with a weak immune system-such as a baby-MRSA can cause serious complications and problems.  It can create high temperatures, skin rashes, and even boils!

That is why I advocate for stiff penalties in situations like this. While I have blogged that it might be near impossible to rid the "human error" out of hospital infections rates, for example dangerous bacteria being on hospital curtains within a day or two after hanging them, washing hands and wearing gowns properly are human errors that could be and SHOULD be eliminated easily. Particularly when children are at risk due to a lack of hospital hygiene because of something so simple that we all learned at a very young age; wash your hands after the bathroom.

Moreover, I think that regulatory agencies should take a very aggressive stance regarding cases like this. The evidence is clear too; twelve infections per year on average, but fourteen babies currently with infections!

But what do you think? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@mmolaw.net. You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.