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How common is sepsis in nursing homes?

by | Jan 1, 2022 | Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect

When you decided to move your elderly parents into a nursing home, you assumed the professionals who work there would take good care of them. Regrettably, because of nursing home abuse and neglect, that does not always happen.

In Illinois, approximately 6,000 nursing home residents must go to the hospital because of sepsis every single year. Even worse, nearly 1,200 of these individuals die. If either of your parents develops sepsis at the nursing home, you may have grounds to file a negligence claim against the facility.

What is sepsis?

When individuals acquire an infection, their immune systems typically jump into action. Sepsis occurs when the body overreacts, essentially starting a chain reaction that may lead to tissue damage, organ failure and even death.

While any type of bacterial or viral infection may trigger sepsis, the following infections are often problematic:

  • Urinary tract
  • Gastrointestinal tract
  • Lung
  • Skin

Why are nursing home residents at risk?

Nursing home residents often suffer from incontinence and mobility issues. If your parents have incontinence, they may be prone to urinary tract infections. Then, if nurses at the nursing home do not dry and clean your parents regularly, sepsis may be soon to follow.

Those with mobility issues may be vulnerable to bedsores. Because bedsores cause the skin to break, they are often a source of serious infection that can quickly turn to sepsis. Therefore, to prevent bedsores, nurses should reposition nursing home residents frequently.

Ultimately, if nursing home professionals fail to protect your parents from either infection or sepsis, you may be eligible for substantial financial compensation.