C. Difficile Threatens Patients in Medical Facilities

3/16/2012 11:05 AM EST

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that a life-threatening bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a health concern for all types of medical facilities such as hospitals, which could eventually lead to medical malpractice lawsuits.

The CDC noted that C. difficile infections, which cause diarrhea and other health issues, have been affecting a historic number of people. The bacteria has been linked to 14,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Close to half of the infections occur in people who are at least 65-years-old, and more than 90 percent of the people who die from it are from the same age group.

Hospitals remain at the center of the issue because many patients with infections from C. difficile are transferred to a hospital, which raises the risk of the infection spreading to other people in the facility. The CDC’s report shows that 50 percent of the people diagnosed with the infections had contracted them before they were admitted, usually after being treated at another care facility. The other half was related to care they receive in the hospital where they were diagnosed with the infection.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical malpractice, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to learn about your options.