• Emergency Room Error
• Infection in Hospital
• IV Errors
• Equipment Failure
• Blood Transfusion Injuries
• Laboratory Mistake

Every year, close to two million people in the US acquire infections in hospitals that can result in severe patient injury and 90,000 preventable fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The shocking truth is that these infections contracted in hospitals are most often completely preventable and frequently occur as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of a physician, nurse, or other healthcare professional. Sadly, these types of senseless medical errors are happening more often than we think and may result in serious illness, injury, or death to a patient.

Common Types of Preventable Hospital-Borne Infections

Various types of infections and illnesses are commonly contracted in hospitals as a result of medical mistakes including:

• Surgical infections
• Blood stream infections
• Pneumonia
• Urinary tract infections

How Are Preventable Infections in Hospitals Contracted?

Infections contracted in hospitals are oftentimes completely avoidable. Unfortunately, many medical professionals do not practice with the highest standard of care when treating patients, causing them to contract major, life-threatening infections in hospitals. In many instances, something as simple as inadequate sanitation methods, such as not effectively washing hands before a surgery, can lead to infections in hospitals.

Many patients may develop serious infections in hospitals because of the irregular use of intravenous therapy, which can be easily contracted through needles. In many cases, infections, including life-threatening respiratory illnesses, may be contracted through the improper use of ventilators, particularly when doctors or nurses fail to take the proper precautionary measures. Furthermore, simple techniques such as clipping hair—rather than shaving it off—before a surgery can help prevent cuts and avoid infections in hospitals.