Why are Residents at Risk for Infections in Nursing Homes?

Residents in nursing homes are at significant risk of contracting infections. There are a number of risk factors in long-term care facilities such as advanced age and living in close proximity to others that can cause infections to spread rapidly. Nursing home residents can also suffer more harm after developing an infection than people who are younger and in better health. Below, our Tampa sepsis and infections attorney outlines some of the biggest risk factors for residents below.

Advanced Age

Nursing home residents are typically older, placing them at a higher risk of contracting an infection. As people age, the immune system becomes weaker and less effective. The immune system does not only become more susceptible to disease as people age, but it is also harder for it to fight infections once they develop. Additionally, vaccines become less effective as people get older.

There are also certain medical procedures associated with aging that puts nursing home residents at greater risk of contracting an infection. These include artificial implants such as prosthetic hips and other medical devices.

Cognitive impairments such as dementia also become more common with advanced aging. When nursing home residents suffer from these, they may forget to take medication or overlook their personal hygiene, which may also put them at greater risk of infection.

Comorbidity 

Comorbidity refers to the occurrence of multiple acute or chronic medical conditions in one person. Weaker immune systems and advanced ages often mean nursing home residents suffer from multiple medical conditions at once, putting them at further risk of contracting an infection.

Nursing home residents are often on courses of antibiotics to fight infections and other diseases. The more a person uses antibiotics, the more their system can become resistant to them. This can make it even more difficult to treat infections once they develop.

Living in Close Quarters

Nursing home residents live in very close proximity to each other. Residents may participate in activities together, share meals, and in some cases, even live in the same room. Interacting with so many other residents increases the risk of transmission. This is often why infections spread so rapidly through a nursing home once they develop.

Nursing home staff members may also carry and transmit infections unknowingly. Staff members typically have stronger immune systems and so, they may not even realize that they carry an infection. As they go from resident to resident, they may unintentionally spread an infection.

Our Sepsis and Infections Attorneys in Tampa Provides Sound Legal Advice 

Although there are many factors that can make infection inevitable, these conditions can often also be avoided with proper care. If you believe your loved one has suffered from an infection due to negligent or abusive conditions, our Tampa sepsis and infections attorneys can help. At Kohn Law, our experienced attorneys can conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the infection and who to hold liable for your loved one’s injuries. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get the sound advice you need.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html