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Infection Control Protocols and Hospital-Acquired Infections in Florida

Infection Control Protocols and Hospital-Acquired Infections in Florida

From hand hygiene to sterilization, infection control protocols matter. Get insights on how lapses can lead to medical malpractice cases.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a serious risk for patients receiving medical care. These infections can lead to extended hospital stays, long-term complications, or even death. To prevent the spread of infectious organisms, healthcare facilities rely on strict infection control protocols. When these protocols are ignored or poorly enforced, the consequences can be devastating. In Florida, preventable infections caused by protocol violations may form the basis of a medical malpractice lawsuit. This article explores how lapses in infection control can lead to serious injuries and legal claims.

In this article, we’ll break down:

What Are Infection Control Protocols?

Infection control protocols are standardized, evidence-based practices intended to prevent the transmission of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens in healthcare environments. These protocols protect patients, healthcare workers, and visitors by reducing exposure to infectious agents during medical care.

Guidance for infection prevention is grounded in research from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These organizations help guide the development of infection prevention and control standards, which address everything from:

  • Hand Hygiene: Routine handwashing and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Sterilization: Cleaning and disinfecting surgical tools and reusable medical devices.
  • Isolation: Separating contagious patients to prevent the spread of infections.
  • Environmental Cleaning: Regular disinfection of patient rooms, operating suites, and common areas.

Note: Hospital administration is responsible for ensuring these protocols align with current scientific guidance and are consistently followed by staff. (For more information here, we discuss the role of administration in establishing patient care protocols in more depth in our article on this subject.)

Prevalent Infection Control Protocols in Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

To reduce the risk of infections, healthcare facilities are expected to implement multiple layers of protection in the form of cleaning, sanitation, and monitoring, including:

  • Hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE). Routine handwashing and appropriate use of gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection.
  • Sterilization and disinfection of instruments. Proper cleaning and sterilization of surgical tools and reusable medical devices.
  • Isolation and cohorting of infected patients. Separating patients with contagious conditions to prevent spread.
  • Catheter-associated and ventilator-associated infection prevention. Adhering to insertion, maintenance, and removal guidelines.
  • Surgical site infection prevention. Preoperative skin preparation, sterile operating environments, and postoperative monitoring. Surgical wounds becoming infected is a common cause of surgical malpractice claims.
  • Environmental cleaning and facility sanitation. Regular disinfection of patient rooms, operating suites, and common areas.
  • Staff training and compliance monitoring. Ongoing education, audits, and corrective action when protocols are not followed.

Common Breakdowns in Infection Control Protocols

When infection control protocols break down, the consequences can be severe. Patients may develop life-threatening infections, including sepsis, that could have been prevented.

Hospital-acquired infections frequently result from systemic failures and broader organizational problems rather than isolated mistakes. These failures include:

  • Inadequate Hand Hygiene: Staff failing to wash hands or use PPE properly.
  • Poor Sterilization: Surgical tools or medical devices not being properly cleaned or disinfected.
  • Failure to Isolate Patients: Contagious patients not being separated from others.
  • Ignoring Checklists: Infection prevention checklists not being followed during procedures.
  • Understaffing or Lack of Training: Insufficient staff or poorly trained staff leading to rushed procedures or shortcuts.
  • Failure to Monitor Infections: Early signs of infection being missed or ignored.

These systemic failures often result in life-threatening infections, such as sepsis, that could have been prevented.

Not every hospital-acquired infection is caused by medical malpractice. However, liability may arise when a preventable infection occurs due to a violation of accepted standards of care.

To establish the basis for a medical malpractice lawsuit in Florida, attorneys typically must evaluate:

  • Existence of Protocols: Whether the facility had written infection control protocols.
  • Alignment with Standards: Whether those protocols followed CDC and NIH guidance.
  • Staff Training: Whether staff were properly trained in infection prevention.
  • Protocol Compliance: Whether protocols were followed during the patient’s care.
  • Causation: Whether the failure to follow protocols directly caused the infection.
  • Reasonable Care: Whether a reasonably careful facility or healthcare professional could have prevented the infection.

Detailed evidence, such as medical records, staff reports, and witness statements, is critical in proving negligence and building a strong case.

Have a Question?

Hospital-acquired infections can have devastating consequences, especially when they result from preventable failures in infection control protocols. If you or a loved one has suffered due to a hospital-acquired infection, you don’t have to face the challenges alone. With extensive experience in medical malpractice cases, Alan Sackrin can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact Alan online or call (954) 458-8655 for a confidential consultation today.