Staph Infections

Corpus Christi Hospital Malpractice Attorneys

A subset of tort law, medical malpractice law covers any patient who has suffered injury, illness, bodily harm, or death due to the negligence of a physician or other medical professional. In some cases, the malpractice may be due to negligence during surgery, for which the surgeon or another at-fault party should be held responsible.

Should a patient develop a staph infection as a result of undergoing surgery, he or she may be eligible to receive compensation for pain and suffering, further medical bills, and any other damages associated with the surgeon’s negligence and/or the unsanitary conditions maintained during surgery.

Find out more about the link between staph infections and malpractice by calling the Bandas Law Firm at (361) 238-2789. Our experienced Corpus Christi medical malpractice lawyers are here for you.

What Is a Staph Infection?

To understand the compensation owed in medical malpractice cases involving post-surgery staph infections, you must first understand exactly what staph infections are, how they develop, and what can occur if a staph infection is left untreated.

According to the Mayo Clinic, staph infections are the result of an invasion of staphylococcus bacteria, which is present in the noses and on the skin of most healthy people. Most staph infections, as a result, are harmless and will result in only minor skin infection and irritation. However, when staphylococcus bacteria infect the bloodstream, bones, lungs, joints, or heart, the infection can be very dangerous and may even be deadly if left untreated.

Fortunately, a round of antibiotics and drainage of the infected area are usually enough to rid the body of staphylococcus bacteria and end the infection. However, as Staphylococcus bacteria have evolved over the past few years, some strains of staph infections do not respond to antibiotics, making staph infections even more serious and dangerous.

How Do Staph Infections Develop After Surgery?

Most surgeons will warn you that infection is a risk of any surgery. As a result, simply developing a serious staph infection after surgery will not guarantee you any medical malpractice compensation. Like other tort law cases, to gain compensation, the burden of proof is on you to show that medical malpractice occurred.

To prove medical malpractice caused a post-surgery staph infection, you must prove that there was negligence on the part of your surgeon and/or the rest of the team charged with your medical care. If the conditions were unsanitary or if you can otherwise prove negligence, then you have a medical malpractice case to bring against your medical care providers.

Failure to Diagnose or Treat a Staph Infection

If you developed a staph infection after surgery or after some other medical treatment and your doctor failed to properly diagnose it, your life could have been in serious danger. Early diagnosis and treatment of staph infections yield the best results and the least pain and suffering for the patient. If your doctor did not recognize a staph infection in a follow-up medical appointment, you could be owed compensation.

Post-Surgery Infection Rates on the Rise in the U.S.

The occurrences of staph infections after surgeries and other medical treatments in the United States are on the rise. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are currently over 80,000 invasive staphylococcus infections reported annually and over 11,000 related deaths each year.

If you or someone you love has suffered from a staph infection after a medical procedure, especially if the infection was not quickly recognized, diagnosed, and treated, you may have a medical malpractice case and you may be owed compensation for damages.

For a free consultation and case analysis, call the Bandas Law Firm at (361) 238-2789. You may also fill out our online contact form at your convenience, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.