According to the Mayo Clinic, septic shock occurs when there is a dramatic drop in blood pressure due to an infection. This life-threatening condition is a response to the body’s inability to fight an infection, causing organs to function poorly or even fail.
Unfortunately, nursing homes across the U.S. are seven times more likely to have residents with severe sepsis than non-nursing home residents. In which sepsis and septic shock can be completely preventable with proper care. If your loved one suffered septic shock because of the neglect of nursing home caregivers, you may be able to receive compensation for their suffering.
What Causes Septic Shock?
Sepsis is blood poisoning caused by a bacterial infection. When an infection is left untreated, it can enter the bloodstream and cause abnormal clotting that damages and destroys tissues. While the cause is due to infection, seniors are more at risk of sepsis because the immune system weakens as we age, making it harder for the body to fight off infections.
Additional risk factors for developing sepsis include the following:
- Bedsores
- Prolonged hospital stays
- Compromised immune system
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Invasive devices such as catheters, IV’s, and breathing tubes
When you visit your loved one in a nursing home, ensure that they don’t have any signs of infections or open wounds like bedsores. If they are immune-compromised, it is even more important to observe that the nursing home staff, residents, and visitors take proper precautions against infections. If you suspect neglect, contact the law firm of Dalli & Marino, and let us look at your case.
Symptoms of Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Since nursing homes have disproportionately high cases of severe sepsis, they must take proper measures to ensure the health and safety of their residents. Those in the care of nursing homes must be regularly monitored with adequate supervision to look for signs of possible signs of infections. Possible symptoms attributed to sepsis include the following:
- Fever
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Low blood pressure
- Pale and cold arms and legs
- Chills
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
There are many conditions that can lead sepsis to become worse if it is not caught and treated quickly enough. It is the duty of the nursing home caregivers to ensure property safety measures are taken to prevent infection from occurring. If your loved one suffered from a preventable injury or died from septic shock due to the negligence of a nursing home, contact our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys for help.
Prevention of Sepsis in Nursing Homes
Nursing homes have a duty to ensure the health and safety of residents. The high rates of septic shock in nursing homes suggest that prevention of infections must be a priority for nursing home facilities. While many factors contribute to infections in nursing homes, the following provides information on ways in which infections in nursing homes can be prevented:
- Frequent hand washing
- The use of gloves and masks
- Cleaning rooms and objects regularly
- Isolating residents who show signs of illness
While sepsis is not a contagious disease, the cause of sepsis is and can be prevented with proper and consistent safety measures. Loved ones of those who are in the care of nursing homes can look out for warning signs and report signs of illness, open wounds or infection to the nursing home staff. If you suspect that abuse or neglect caused your loved one septic shock, our legal team in New York.
Getting a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in New York
Dalli & Marino is a premier nursing home negligence and elderly abuse law firm in New York. Our team of attorneys have been fighting for the rights of nursing home residents for over 20 years and have won millions of dollars for victims of nursing home negligence. Our highly skilled team approaches each case individually and is dedicated to helping you recover compensation for any abuse or neglect from a nursing home facility. Contact us at (888) 465-8790 or complete our contact form. Se habla español.
