When they check into a Philadelphia hospital, people expect the treatment they receive to make them better. But sometimes patients are exposed to virulent bacteria during the course of treatment that can not only make them sicker, it can kill them. C. diff is the latest infectious bacteria to pose a medical malpractice threat to patients in Philadelphia hospitals and nursing homes. The spread of dangerous C. diff bacteria is a problem not just in Philadelphia but in hospital and health care facilities nationwide.
Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a common cause of bacterial colon infections linked to antibiotic use. Antibiotics interfere with the normal bacteria in the bowel, allowing the growth of C. diff. Because most patients who contract C. diff exhibit no symptoms, the infection is difficult to diagnose, often delaying appropriate treatment.
According to a recent report, C. diff has surpassed MRSA, a deadly drug-resistant staph infection, as the most common infection contracted in hospitals and nursing homes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6,432 Americans died from C. diff in 2007, the most recent figures available. That's more than an 800% increase from 2006 when 793 Americans died from C. diff. The rapid increase and spread of C. diff in Philadelphia and other U.S. hospitals and nursing homes has public health officials on high alert. Of considerable concern is the increasing virulence of this bacterial infection.
CDC audits of infection prevention programs have shown marked decrease in the incidence of C. diff when hospitals increased vigilance about staff hand washing, surface cleaning and the isolation of infected patients. If you or someone you love has been the victim of hospital negligence and been exposed to C. diff, an experienced medical malpractice attorney can review your case and inform you of your legal rights.
