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Christian & Davis, LLC has long been aware that there has been an increase in the number of hospital infections. MRSA infections, which are serious infections that are resistant to most antibiotics have been on the rise for a number of years, and have almost become epidemic. The primary problem is that it has been difficult to prove that it was the negligence of the hospital which caused this. Our firm has vigilant in reviewing such cases, especially to determine if the physicians and hospitals timely recognized when these infections occurred and treated them properly. The failure to timely treat them can result in severe damage or even death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention located in Atlanta, GA has estimated that over 2 million hospital acquired infections occurred annually, resulting in 90,000 deaths. In long term care facilities, such as nursing homes, the CDC estimates an additional 1.5 million healthcare associated infections occur each year. The Committed to Reduce Infection Deaths has provided patients with 15 steps to reduce the risk of a hospital infection. These include the following: •Ø Ask the hospital staff to clean their hands before treating you and ask visitors to clean their hands as well. •Ø Before the doctor uses a stethoscope ask him to wipe the flat surface with alcohol. •Ø If you need a central line catheter ask the doctor about the benefit of an antibiotic-impregnated or coded one to reduce infections. •Ø If you need surgery choose a surgeon with a low infection rate. •Ø Beginning 3-5 days before surgery shower or bath daily with chlorhexidine soap. •Ø Ask your surgeon to test you for MRSA before you go to the hospital by swabbing your nose. •Ø Stop smoking in advance of your surgery. •Ø On the day of your surgery ask your doctor if it would be helpful to have an antibiotic one hour before the incision. •Ø Ask your doctor about keeping you warm during surgery. •Ø Do not use a razor on the surgical site, use clippers. •Ø Avoid touching your hands to your mouth. •Ø Ask you doctor to monitor your sugar levels continuously during and after surgery. •Ø Try to avoid the use of a urinary tract catheter if possible, they tend to seed infections. •Ø If you have an IV make sure it is inserted and removed under clean conditions and changed every 3-4 days. •Ø If you are having a baby by C-section follow the steps listed above as you would with any other surgery.
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