HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS – ARE THEY “INJURIES” AND CAN I CLAIM COMPENSATION?

Rates of MRSA in hospitals have fallen significantly in recent years, but over 6% of hospital patients in England still acquire some form of infection during their stay, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). The figures come from a major report compiled by the HPA, which looked at the current state of healthcare-acquired infections (HCAI) in hospital, including pneumonia and norovirus as well as “superbugs” such as MRSA. A range of newspapers covered the survey, each emphasising different aspects of the report.

Based on results from a selection of hospitals across England, the report indicates that there have been large reductions in both MRSA and C. difficile rates since the last survey was conducted in 2006. C. difficile infections fell from 2% of patients becoming infected in 2006 to 0.4% in the 2012 report. MRSA fell even more sharply, from 1.8% of patients affected to less than 0.1%.

However, infections with other organisms, such as E. coli and salmonella, are increasing. Infections were most common in the respiratory tract (involving the lungs, windpipe, nose or sinuses), followed by urinary tract infections and infection of surgical sites. Newborns and the elderly were the most likely to have a HCAI, and infections were highest in intensive care units and on surgical wards.

The HPA says that measures that were put in place to fight MRSA and C. difficile infections appear to have driven down infection rates, but that efforts should now be directed at tackling the emerging infections due to other bacteria, as well as maintaining the improvements seen.

What did the report look at?

The report presents the results of an extensive examination of hospital-acquired infections across England, conducted by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). It looked at a range of healthcare-acquired infections (HCAI), from “superbugs” such as MRSA to outbreaks of norovirus in English hospitals, both NHS and private.

To compile the report, the HPA conducted a survey of 99 NHS acute trusts and five private-sector care organisations between September and November 2011. In total, data from 52,433 patients was analysed and presented in the report. The survey included data on the type of infection (the organism involved), the location of the infection, patient characteristics and hospital characteristics. The survey also collected data on the use of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics.

Overall, 6.4% of these patients had some form of HCAI (95%confidence interval 4.7% to 8.7%). Private-sector hospitals had a significantly lower prevalence of HCAI compared to NHS hospitals, at a rate of 2.2% (95% CI 1.3–3.8%). Although the difference in rates could be down to better practices in private institutions, it is also possible that it is due to the small size of the included private-sector hospitals, the demographics of the patients treated there or the nature of the services they provide.

Why is it falling?

The report suggests that recent efforts to tackle MRSA transmission in hospitals have been effective at driving down the prevalence of these infections. Many of these are simple yet effective in nature, such as emphasising regular, thorough hand-washing and swabbing patients to test for MRSA as they are being admitted to hospital.

Despite these improvements, the HPA still emphasises that there needs to be continued focus on these preventative efforts in order to keep the number of these infections low.

What other bugs are emerging?

While MRSA and C. difficile infections appear to have fallen over the last five years, new types of infections have emerged. A class of organisms called enterobacteriaceae (also known as coliforms) were the most frequently reported HCAI, with 0.9% of the survey populations infected. Enterobacteriaceae include bacteria that are normally found in the human intestine, such as E. coli and salmonella, although there are also newly identified strains.

Approximately 15% of the enterobacteriaceae infections reported during the survey appear to be resistant to some newer antibiotics. The report recommends the creation of new guidance on the control and prevention of these infections in healthcare settings.

The report does not show rates of infections specifically due to norovirus, but the overall rate of general gastrointestinal system infections has also reduced, from 22% of patients to 8.8% from 2006 to 2011.

Who is getting infected?

The prevalence of HCAI infections varied across patient groups and hospital wards. The survey found that prevalence was highest among patients in intensive care units (ICUs) (23.4% of patients) and on surgical wards (8% of patients). This is partly due to the types of procedures conducted in these settings, which are generally associated with an increased risk of infection. In addition to these procedures, ICUs tend to care for the most vulnerable patients: of patients in the ICU, 40.5% were intubated (breathing with the assistance of a ventilator, which involves running a tube down the throat) and this procedure is associated with a risk of pneumonia. Other procedures common in ICUs and surgical wards, such as catheterisation (inserting a tube to drain urine), also are associated with an increased risk of infection.

Healthcare-acquired infections were most common in patients under the age of two (prevalence among patients between one and 23 months old was 8.2%) and in the elderly (prevalence among patients between 65 and 79 years old was 7.4%; over 80 years old it was 6.5%). Although the exact reasons are not clear, young children and elderly people:

• Generally have a greater need for hospitalisation and therefore are in a setting where they can catch an infection.
• May stay in hospital for longer periods and therefore have a longer time to become exposed to an infection.
• Are more susceptible to infections because they have weaker immune systems.

How can infections be prevented?

The report says that anywhere from 20% to 40% of HCAIs currently occurring may be preventable. The Department of Health advocates the adoption of “high-impact interventions”, which are evidence-based approaches that can reduce the risk of HCAI. There are interventions that focus on catheter care, ventilator-associated pneumonia, surgical site infections, cleaning and decontamination and chronic wound care. These interventions provide advice on specific steps that can be taken throughout a procedure that reduce the risk of HCAI.

The HPA reports that good hygiene, appropriate use of antibiotics and improved clinical techniques can reduce the risk of HCAIs. Some simple measures to prevent infection or transmission include:

• Hand-washing, either with soap and water or alcohol hand gel in some cases.
• Use of protective gear, such as disposable gloves and aprons.
• Regular cleaning to prevent the build-up of organisms.
• Isolating patients with antibiotic or antimicrobial-resistant infections, in order to prevent the spread of such organisms.
• Appropriate use of antibiotics: appropriate use includes using the right type of antibiotic at the right dose and only using them when judged medically necessary.

Can I claim Compensation for an Heath Care Acquired Infection?

Many such infections can be prevented with thorough hand hygiene and environmental cleaning. All Hospitals have Hand Hygiene policies and audit against them. The records of these audits should be examined along with the minutes of the meetings of the infection control team in each hospital. If the hospital have not followed their procedures thoroughly enough and there is evidence that the bacteria was present in the hospital then it is possible to claim for your injuries. The infections can be serious. MRSA for example may cause serious on-going issues if it gets into the blood stream via open wounds or catheters/cannulas etc.

Our consultants have succeeded in claiming for such injuries some of which attract high levels of compensation if further surgery is needed to remove infected tissue.

If you have suffered an infection you believe may have been MRSA or C.difficile then call us and we will be able to advise you about the possibility of claiming.

Please note that these guides are for informational purposes only, and do not constitute legal advice. You can contact one of our expert consultant lawyers using the form below.