California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Blog

According to official figures more than 75,000 people died in hospitals in 2010 after having experienced neglect and poor care from hospital staff.

Most if not all were affected by bedsores and infected wounds, others died after becoming dehydrated and malnourished says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck. The death toll from bedsores and wound infections has risen substantially in the last 10 years.

The figures are shocking because bedsores are fully preventable in the majority of cases. When a patient spends longer periods in bed, they need to regularly turn and shift their body position to avoid excessive pressure on tissues. However, when patients are not able to move on their own it is the hospital staff's responsibility to check for tissue damage and to turn patients.

Even though not all fatalities were directly caused by infected wounds and bedsores, the fact that they affected such a huge number of patients suggests very poor level of care says Peck.

Bedsores, Pressure Sores and Decubitus Ulcers are frequently listed on death certificates many other elders also die of blood poisoning, Sepsis, primarily caused by wound infections. Malnutrition and Dehydration are other major signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Continue reading "Bed Sores, Malnutrition and Dehydration Are Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect" »

What if the sore gets infected?
Pressure sores, Bed sores and Decubitus Ulcers that become infected heal more slowly and can spread a dangerous infection to the rest of your body. If you notice any of the signs of infection listed below, call your doctor right away.

Signs of an infected pressure sore include the following:
•Thick yellow or green pus
•A bad smell from the sore
•Redness or warmth around the sore
•Swelling around the sore
•Tenderness around the sore

Signs that the infection may have spread include the following:
•Fever
•Chills
•Mental confusion or difficulty concentrating
•Rapid heartbeat
•Weakness
How are infected pressure sores treated?
The treatment of an infected pressure sore depends on how bad the infection is. If only the sore itself is infected, an antibiotic ointment can be put on the sore. When bone or deeper tissue is infected, antibiotics are often required. They can be given intravenously (through a needle put in a vein) or orally (by mouth).

How can I tell if the sore is getting better?
As a pressure sore heals, it slowly gets smaller. Less fluid drains from it. New, healthy tissue starts growing at the bottom of the sore. This new tissue is light red or pink and looks lumpy and shiny. It may take 2 to 4 weeks of treatment before you see these signs of healing.
How can pressure sores be prevented?The most important step to prevent pressure sores is to avoid prolonged pressure on one part of your body, especially the pressure points mentioned previously.

It's also important to keep your skin healthy. Keep your skin clean and dry. Use a mild soap and warm (not hot) water. Apply moisturizers so your skin doesn't get too dry. If you must spend a lot of time in bed or in a wheelchair, check your whole body every day for spots, color changes or other signs of sores. Pay special attention to the pressure points where sores are most likely to occur.

If you smoke, you should quit. People who smoke are more likely to develop pressure sores.

Exercise can help improve blood flow, strengthen your muscles and improve your overall health. Talk to your doctor if physical activity is hard for you. He or she can suggest exercises that can work for you, or refer you to physical therapist that can help.

Continue reading "What Do You Do if a Bed Sores, Pressure Sores, Decubitus Ulcers Become Infected says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck" »

Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in the body, including pneumonia says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck. It is known that in the United States, health care-associated infections (HCAI) affect 1.7 million hospitalizations every year. And, the two most common conditions are sepsis and pneumonia. In February 2010, a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, confirmed the high costs resulting from caring for patients: an more than $8.4 billion per year. In addition to this, the study found that such infections cost an average of an extra 11 days in the hospital and $33,000 dollars, per person.

Sometimes called blood poisoning, sepsis is the body's often deadly response to infection or injury. Sepsis kills and disables millions and requires early suspicion and rapid treatment for survival.

Worldwide, one-third of patients who develop sepsis die. Almost 20% of patients who develop sepsis after surgery die. Many who do survive are left with organ dysfunction and/or amputations.

The most common source of infection, among adults, is the lung or lungs.

Continue reading "Nursing Homes and Long Term Care Facility Infections May Lead to Sepsis and Septic Shock Says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck" »

Having a simple blood test could prevent the dangerous complications associated with a medical condition called sepsis.

"Sepsis is really the body's response to severe infection," says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven Peck. "There's inflammatory activity in the cells trying to fight the infection, but in some ways, it's thought that the body turns upon itself."

Also called "blood poisoning," sepsis kills 215,000 Americans every year, according to the Sepsis Alliance. Those lucky enough to survive can face organ failure and lost limbs.

"Sometimes it can move very quickly, sometimes minutes to hours, and so catching it early, your window of easy treatment can be very narrow," says Elder Abuse Lawyer Peck.

Commonly, sepsis is diagnosed only after symptoms start to show, but thanks to a new blood test, sepsis can be detected earlier Peck says.

The test measures a protein which can be found in the blood called procalcitonin. It measures the levels of procalcitonin, normally not present in a healthy individual. The higher the levels of procalcitonin, the greater the risk of patients going to progress to severe sepsis or septic shock.

Using the procalcitonin test, doctors can easily locate the protein in the blood, catching sepsis before it's too late.

Continue reading "Sepsis Can Cause Dangerous Complications says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck" »

Nursing Homes may be at unique risk for outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease. Multiple chronic diseases and functional impairments, as well as common air, food, water, and medical care, heighten the potential for an outbreak, as do prolonged lengths of stay, limited diagnostic facilities, and poorly developed infection-control programs.[

Among epidemic illnesses, outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease may be particularly severe. A variety of characteristics of the nursing home and its residents predispose to serious gastrointestinal infection. One review of such outbreaks identified a variety of factors placing this population at risk. Age-related (or medication-induced) achlorhydria and high rates of antibiotic usage, which alter the normal protective gastrointestinal flora, increase rates of infection and colonization. Additionally, dementia, incontinence, and psychosis, present in high rates in long-term care facilities, as well as crowded communal living conditions, facilitate behavioral patterns that allow person-to-person transmission of gastrointestinal pathogens. These risk factors create the potential for the occurrence of severe outbreaks, including wrongful death.

Continue reading "Nursing Homes Are Severly At Risk For Gastrointestinal Infections Says Elder Abuse Lawyer Steven Peck" »

A Pressure Sore, Bed Sore also known as a Decubitus Ulcer is an area of the skin or underlying tissue that is dead or dying as a result of the loss of blood flow to the area says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect lawyer Steven Peck. The pressure occurs when a person rests on a bony area for a prolonged period of time. The extended pressure leads to a pressure sore.

Anyone can get a pressure sore, bed sores or decubitus ulcer. They occur in as many as 10% of all hospitalized patients, but it is estimated that up to 80% of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) will have at least one pressure sore during their lifetime.

There are four stages of a pressure sore, bed sores and decubitus ulcers..

Stage 1 - Damage is limited to the top two layers of skin, the epidermal and dermal layers. The skin is not broken, but there is redness that does not turn white when touched. A person with dark skin will also see a change in skin color, which may become darker, dry, flaky, or ashy. The area may be warmer than other areas, and there may be a change in the skin's texture.
Stage 2 - Damage extends beyond the top two layers of the skin to the adipose tissue. The skin is slightly broken. The sore appears to be an abrasion, blister or small crater.
Stage 3 - Damage extends through all the superficial layers of the skin, adipose tissue, down to and including the muscle. The ulcer appears as a deep crater and damage to surrounding tissue may be present.
Stage 4 - Damage includes destruction of all soft tissue structures and involves bone or joint structures. Undermining of ajoining tissue and sinus tracts may be associated with these sores.

The Evaluation
Anytime you have a pressure sore, it is essential that you keep weight off of the area and contact you doctor immediately. Your doctor will evaluate your condition to determine your treatment options.

You also need to be evaluated for proper equipment. You may need bedding with a specialized mattress or a change in your wheelchair cushion.

Stage 1 and 2 pressure sores are usually treated without surgery. Stage 1 treatment is almost always bed rest because it is essential to stay off the pressure sore to allow healing. Other treatments might include wound care, improving nutrition, pressure reliefs and exercises. Treatment for muscle spasms may be necessary to allow the wound to heal.

Surgery might be used for stage 3 and 4 pressure sores located on the sacrum (tailbone), ischium (beneath the buttocks), and trochanter (hips). Surgery may also be needed to treat sores that have not responded to non-surgical treatments, correct a previous surgical failure, remove infection from the hip joint, and prevent exposure of bone, plates or screws.

Patients who are poor candidates for operations in general should not undergo surgery. For example, patients with a history of drug and alcohol abuse are not considered good candidates for surgery. The same is true for patients without adequate social support or appropriate equipment. Because smokers have a greater risk for skin flap failure and other complications, smokers are usually not candidates unless they stop smoking 8 weeks prior to surgery.

Antibiotic use for pressure sore infections can affect treatment and may change the plan for surgery. Infection is suggested by redness at the wound edge, foul odor, or discharge. An additional evaluation is required for medical problems that could complicate the surgery itself or reduce the body's ability to heal. These problems include such things as heart disease, blocked arteries, lung problems and diabetes.

Continue reading "Bed Sores, Pressure Sores and Decubitus Ulcers Are A Result of Loss of Blood Flow says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven Peck" »

Sepsis is a serious medical condition caused by an overwhelming immune response to infection. Chemicals released into the blood to fight infection trigger widespread inflammation.

Inflammation may result in organ damage. Blood clotting during sepsis reduces blood flow to limbs and internal organs, depriving them of nutrients and oxygen. In severe cases, one or more organs fail. In the worst cases, infection leads to a life-threatening drop in blood pressure, called septic shock. This can quickly lead to the failure of several organs -- lungs, kidneys, and liver -- causing death.

Sepsis occurs in 1% to 2% of all hospitalizations in the U.S. It affects at least 750,000 people each year.

The term sepsis is often used interchangeably with septicemia, a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly and is often fatal.

Sepsis Causes and Risk Factors

Bacterial infections are the most common cause of sepsis. However, sepsis can also be caused by other infections. The infection can begin anywhere bacteria or other infectious agents can enter the body. It can result from something as seemingly harmless as a scraped knee or nicked cuticle or from a more serious medical problem such as appendicitis, pneumonia, meningitis, or a urinary tract infection.

Sepsis may accompany infection of the bone, called osteomyelitis. In hospitalized patients, common sites of initial infection include IV lines, surgical incisions, urinary catheters, and bed sores.

Continue reading "Sepsis also known as Septicemia Is Extremely Serious and Life Threatening Says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck" »

Patients admitted to US hospitals for severe sepsis are increasingly more likely to survive their hospitalization, have more severe infections, and require long-term care or assistance at home, according to new research published in the November issue of Chest. These trends occur against the backdrop of an aging population with increased comorbidities.

Across the United States, hospitalizations resulting from severe sepsis were nearly 2.5 times greater in 2007 than in 2000. There were 781,725 hospitalizations resulting from severe sepsis (2.38% of all hospitalizations) in 2007 compared with 300,270 hospitalizations (0.99% of the all hospitalizations) in 2000. The frequency of severe sepsis rose steadily year to year, peaking at 343 hospitalizations per 100,000 US adults in 2007, which is more than a 2-fold increase from the 143 hospitalizations per 100,000 US adults seen in 2000.

Severity of sepsis also worsened during the same period, with an average of 1.62 and 1.90 organ system failures at admission in 2000 and 2007, respectively (P < .001). The percentage of severe sepsis hospitalizations with 3 or more organ failures increased from approximately 15% to 25% (P < .001). In-hospital death rates also declined from 39.6% to 27.3% during the same period. Respiratory failure was the most frequent type of organ failure in 2000 compared with renal failure in 2007.

The investigators used data from the US Census Bureau and the Healthcare Costs and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample to estimate the burden of severe sepsis hospitalizations per 100,000 patients says Los Angeles Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck of the Peck Law Group. They adjusted data on hospital discharge status for demographics, the number of organ-system failures, and comorbidities.

Continue reading "Long Term Care Is Increasing for Elders and Dependant Adults That Acquire Severe Infections In Long Term Care Facilities" »

Pressure sores that become infected heal more slowly and can spread a dangerous infection to the rest of your body. If you notice any of the signs of infection listed below, call your doctor right away.

Signs of an infected pressure sore include the following:
•Thick yellow or green pus
•A bad smell from the sore
•Redness or warmth around the sore
•Swelling around the sore
•Tenderness around the sore

Signs that the infection may have spread include the following:
•Fever
•Chills
•Mental confusion or difficulty concentrating
•Rapid heartbeat
•Weakness
How are infected pressure sores treated?
The treatment of an infected pressure sore depends on how bad the infection is. If only the sore itself is infected, an antibiotic ointment can be put on the sore. When bone or deeper tissue is infected, antibiotics are often required. They can be given intravenously (through a needle put in a vein) or orally (by mouth).

How can I tell if the sore is getting better?
As a pressure sore heals, it slowly gets smaller. Less fluid drains from it. New, healthy tissue starts growing at the bottom of the sore. This new tissue is light red or pink and looks lumpy and shiny. It may take 2 to 4 weeks of treatment before you see these signs of healing.

Continue reading "California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck Explains What Transpires When a Pressure Sore, Bed Sore, or Decubitus Ulcer Becomes Infected" »

MRSA, short for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a type of Staph infection that is resistant to common antibiotics. MRSA and Staph infections are a growing problem in both healthcare settings and the community. These contagious infections can be hard to treat, may worsen quickly and often lead to chronic recurring infections and can be deadly especially in the elderly and people that have bedsores, pressure ulcers also known as decubitus ulcers.Antibiotics are the standard medical treatment for Staph or MRSA infections. Unfortunately, antibiotics are often unsuccessful against MRSA and can cause many negative side effects. Frequent diagnosis errors, treatment delays and ineffective prevention measures can further complicate the healing and recovery process.

Continue reading "MRSA and Staph Infections Are a Growing Problem in Healthcare Settings " »

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) caused by an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacillus organism, is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infectious diarrhea in healthcare facilities and has the potential to cause outbreaks in hospitals and other settings. Exacerbated by the use of antimicrobial agents in the majority of cases, this disease has caused illness in all ages; however, the elderly (individuals 65 years of age or older) are at particular risk for this infection and of concern is the notable increase in morbidity and mortality in this population. This article discusses CDI with emphasis on the challenges of this disease and infection prevention measures in the nursing home setting. The term "nursing home" is defined by Webster's New World Medical Dictionary "as a residential facility for persons with chronic illness or disability, particularly older people who have mobility and eating problems." Nursing homes are also referred to as convalescent homes or long-term care (LTC) facilities. The terms nursing home and LTC facility are used interchangeably.

In 20010, patients aged 65 years or older had the highest rate of CDI with 19.3 cases per 1,000 hospitalizations, and this variable has prevailed since 1995. Data on the elderly has been consistent with national reports on CDI hospitalization rates

Continue reading "Clostridium Difficile (CDI) Causes Severe Problems In Nursing Home and Long Term Care Facilities" »

Risk factors that lead to sepsis can be reduced by many methods. Perhaps the most important way to reduce the chance for sepsis is to first prevent any infections. Vaccines, good hygiene, hand washing, and avoiding sources of infection are excellent preventive methods. If infection occurs, immediate treatment of any infection before it has a chance to spread into the blood is likely to prevent sepsis. This is especially important in patients that are at greater risk for infection such as those who have suppressed immune systems, those with cancer, people with diabetes, or elderly patients.

Continue reading "How Can Sepsis Infection (blood poisoning) be prevented?" »

Signs of MRSA

Signs of MRSA include respiratory issues, infections around open wounds, and urinary tract issues. To discover if a resident has this bacterium a swab of the nostrils and a microscope examination for the bacterium is needed. It does not take long for MRSA to worsen. Usually the initial symptoms appear in 24 to 48 hours, and after 72 hours it is resistant to treatment. MRSA can be prevented with proper cleaning and care of patients. Treatment is through vancomycin or teicoplanin and if used early enough can stop the infection before death can occur.

Signs of VRSA

VRSA is vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. VRSA can result from treatment of MRSA with vancomycin and teicoplanin. The patient may become resistant to the original infection, as well as the drug being used to stop the infection from spreading. This particular bacterium is rarer than MRSA, but it does occur with increasing regularity. The bacteria will thicken the cell walls depleting the amount of vancomycin that enters the blood stream and kills the bacteria. Patients with this infection must be isolated to avoid spreading it throughout the rest of the SNF. They may also have to be placed on a pump to clean out their system of the vancomycin before trying another drug. The bacterium has to be isolated in the body to help eradicate it.

Looking for Risk Factors

VRSA and MRSA are just two inflectional bacterium found in SNFs that you should look for before placing a loved one. To keep residents at SNFs free of this inflectional bacterium the staff must provide proper housekeeping, hygiene, and keep to federal and state regulations regarding care facilities.

Continue reading "Nursing Home Infections Could Be Deadly says Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven Peck" »

Sepsis is a severe illness in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria. Common places where an infection might start include the bowel, the kidneys, the lungs, and the skin. Sepsis infection can vary but bed sores from neglectful nursing home care can eventually cause the dangerous bacterial condition and an elder person is more susceptible to sepsis infection since their immune systems are worn down says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck.

Many of times under qualified, under trained, underpaid nursing home workers, sometimes with previous records of abuse/neglect, are caring for the elders in nursing homes or health care facilities causing Elders to be susceptible to severe bedsores causing sepsis, and even wrongful death.

The cases of sepsis have almost doubled over the last ten years, which is easily correlated to the increase of people that have aged and the extremely high incidence of nursing home abuse. In fact, even with aggressive sepsis treatment around 215,000 Americans with sepsis will end up dying from it every year.

Depending on the individual, symptoms of sepsis infection can range. When elders in nursing homes develop bed sores, largely because of nursing home abuse neglect, they will sometimes develop sepsis symptoms. Some of these common symptoms include:

Fever

Shaking

Skin Rash

Rapid Heartbeat

Hyperventilation

Delirium

Chills

Continue reading "Sepsis Is A Severe Illness Causing Death In Nursing Homes" »

Work to eradicate MRSA and clostridium difficile is a priority for protecting elder and dependant adults in long term care facilities says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck.

These type of serious infections can be eradicated if long term care facilites would monitor their facilities for cleanliness and give the pateints quality care. Infections are not inevitable.

A greater focus on cleanliness should include improved bed cleaning and hand hygiene, and the introduction of MRSA screening so that emergency patients are checked for signs of the infection when they are admitted to avoid contamination on wards.

Bed sores in long term care facilities are also a problem and are distressing to patients, may prolong the time they spend in hospital, and cause further health probelms including death.

Continue reading "Eradicating Infections in Long Term Care Facilities Is a Priority" »