MRSA Claim: Compensation For MRSA Contracted At Hospital, In A Care Home Or Other Healthcare Environment
Find out what an MRSA claim is; the symptoms you are likely to experience when suffering from MRSA; the precautions which can be taken by hospitals to prevent the spread of MRSA; when you can make a claim and how to start your claim.
- MRSA Claim: Compensation For MRSA Contracted At Hospital, In A Care Home Or Other Healthcare Environment
What is a MRSA claim?
If you contract MRSA at hospital or in a nursing home due to negligence – you might be entitled to make an MRSA claim for compensation. In other words – a claim for money to compensate you for the pain and suffering and financial losses due to the suffering MRSA.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus / MRSA
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is abbreviated, and more commonly known as MRSA. This condition primarily affects the skin.
MRSA bacteria is resistant to antibiotics, such as penicillin. It is one of the so called superbugs due to this resistance.
MRSA is a more resistant version of the Staph bacteria, which is carried in the nostrils by a large proportion of the population. Staph bacteria can be simply treated by antibiotics.
Typical places you develop symptoms of MRSA
MRSA is commonly contracted in environments where people are grouped together and have open wounds and weakened immune systems. Examples of such settings, include:
- Hospitals.
- Nursing homes.
- Other healthcare environments.
What are the symptoms of MRSA?
If you are healthy you can be infected with MRSA without displaying any symptoms.
| Displaying No Symptoms |
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| When you have an infection or condition and display no symptoms – you are typically referred to as being asymptomatic. Watch Out!! You can be asymptomatic for an extended time period that can extend to many years. |
However – it is when your immune system is weakened (for example in hospital) that MRSA can take hold. Thereafter symptoms may develop, which typically follow a sequence, including:
- Small red bumps appear on your skin that look like boils or pimples. sometimes coupled with a fever and a rash.
- Next – within a day or so the bumps become larger and more painful.
- Within a day or so the bumps become larger and more painful.
- After a few days the bumps develop into open boils filled with pus.
- If not treated properly – there is a risk that the infection can affect your heart, bones and joints and can be life threatening
How can a MRSA infection be avoided by a hospital or other healthcare environment?
MRSA claims can be prevented by hospitals by nurses and doctors taking proper precautions including:
Correct sterilisation of medical equipment and surface sanitising
Medical equipment and surfaces should be regularly sanitised.
Be aware!! Alcohol has been found to be an effective means of sanitation killing MRSA.
A screening process of patients admitted to hospital.
Staph bacteria is carried in the nostril of the nose by a large proportion of the population. However – the more resistant form of MRSA is more rare.
Hospital staff should take swabs from the nostrils of patients to test whether they have asymptomatic MRSA.
Detection in this manner will allow the MRSA to be treated before contact with other patients or before an operation on that patient takes place.
Washing of hands by hospital staff
Doctors and nurses should use a sanitising hand wash and alcohol based hand wipes to kill MRSA germs.
Disposal of paper hospital gowns
Paper hospital gowns can carry the MRSA virus. Therefore – these gowns should be properly disposed of to prevent the risk of MRSA being spread and to avoid a MRSA claim against the NHS Trust.
When can you make a MRSA claim?
If you have contracted MRSA at hospital, in a nursing home or other controlled medical environment it is possible that this has occurred due to incorrect safety precautions having been followed by the hospital staff.
Therefore, so long as your solicitor can prove negligence and/or breach of statutory duty by the NHS leading to your MRSA condition – it is likely you will be entitled to claim compensation.
This compensation would include a sum for the pain and suffering caused by MRSA infection together with any long term effects, such as scarring, disfigurement or deformity.
How do you make an MRSA compensation claim?
To make a MRSA claim – you will need the help of a specialist clinical negligence claims solicitor.
However, typically you should consider making a complaint via the NHS patients complaints procedure before your decide whether to make your claim.
FREE legal help
Use our free legal help by phone or online. You can discuss your claim with a specialist solicitors, ask an online question or have your claim assessed.
