No recovery no fee
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most commonly diagnosed infections in nursing homes. This type of infection is more prominent in the female population but also occurs in men. About 30% of women over the age of 85 experienced a UTI in the last month. UTIs in nursing homes make up about one-third of diagnosed UTIs. UTIs are not only painful, but they may also become life-threatening, especially in the elderly, who have less robust immune systems.
Nursing home caregivers have a duty to provide adequate care to their residents, including preventing, identifying, and properly treating urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, negligence is a significant problem in nursing homes and contributes to more common, more severe UTIs, sometimes leading to sepsis and death.
When bacteria enter the body and colonize, infection sets in. A urinary tract infection can occur in any part of the urinary system, including the urethra, ureter, bladder, or kidneys. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria that thrive in the intestines and become accidentally introduced into the urinary tract. Fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms may also cause UTIs, particularly in the elderly with compromised immunity.
Elderly people who live at home also experience more frequent UTIs than the general population due to weakened immune systems, incontinence, and medical problems; however, the nursing home environment places residents at an increased risk. Urinary tract infections occur in high numbers in nursing homes due to the following factors:
Not only are UTIs common in nursing homes, but they are also more commonly diagnosed as severe UTIs because the elderly may not be able to describe their pain or convey their early symptoms to caregivers due to strokes, dementia, and cognitive disorders.
Urinary tract infections in younger individuals typically begin with a frequent urge to urinate, symptoms of pain and pressure, and a burning sensation while urinating. UTIs may present differently in the elderly, making them more difficult to diagnose or to treat in the earliest stages. Nursing home residents with UTIs sometimes present the following symptoms:
If the UTI infects the upper part of the urinary tract including the bladder or kidneys, the resident may develop a fever, back pain, chills, weakness, and vomiting.
Urinary tract infections can lead to serious complications that increase the risk of morbidity or mortality in elderly nursing home residents. Complications include frequent UTIs, permanent damage to the kidneys and bladder, and deadly sepsis. Sepsis (blood poisoning) occurs when the body’s defense system addresses infection by triggering a cytokine storm of inflammation that causes organ failure, sometimes leading to death.
A Phoenix nursing home abuse lawyer can assist if your loved one has suffered harm due to neglect or inadequate care in a nursing home. Nursing home administrators, staff, and caregivers have a legal duty to provide skilled nursing care and adequate hygiene, nutrition, and hydration for the elderly in their care, treating them with respect for their human dignity. Sadly, chronic understaffing and inexperienced or overwhelmed caregivers lead to rampant neglect in many nursing homes, including the failure to detect and promptly treat UTIs.
Call Knapp & Roberts if you or your loved one experienced harm or death due to one or more urinary tract infections in an Arizona nursing home. We are here to take action to recover compensation and justice for your family.
The personal injury attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona, at Knapp & Roberts have the compassion and trial lawyer skills to tell your story to a jury. We will get to know you and your family so that we can help the jury understand what has happened to you and your family and how it has changed your lives. Obtain the compensation necessary for the injuries and losses you have suffered.
