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$9.5M Hospital Infection Lawsuit Settlement for Flesh-Eating Bacteria

September 6, 2013 — A mother who was infected by flesh-eating bacteria after giving birth has settled a hospital infection lawsuit for $9.5 million. The plaintiff, Monica Sprague Jorge, 41, lost both her arms and legs to the disease.

Jorge gave birth to her daughter, Sofia, via cesarian section at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts. She claimed the doctors and nurses who treated her did not recognize the symptoms of flesh-eating bacteria in her wounds from the C-section. She has undergone over 40 surgeries to remove her limbs, uterus, ovaries, gallbladder, and part of her intestines.

Necrotizing fasciitis, also known as “flesh-eating bacteria,” is a rare infection that is fatal in 30-40% of cases. It causes extensive destruction of tissue in the fatty layers just below the surface of the skin. It is one of the most serious types of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), which are the most common hospital infections.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that one in 20 hospital patients develops an infection. SSIs are most common, followed by urinary tract infections and pneumonia. Recent studies suggest that about half of these infections are preventable.

JAMA Internal Medicine published a study on September 2 estimating that the annual cost of the five most common hospital infections is $9.8 billion per year, with SSIs contributing 33.7% of the total costs.

Symptoms of a hospital infection may include:

  • Infected area becomes red, hot, swollen, and painful
  • High or low body temperature
  • Increased discharge or pus coming from wound
  • Foul-smelling wound
  • Increased swelling that goes past the wound area
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Low blood pressure
  • Mental confusion
  • Wounds that do not heal

Do I have a Hospital Infection Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting hospital infection induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by an infection acquired in the hospital, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Medical Malpractice Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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