Outpatient Antibiotics and ER Visits May Increase Infection Risk

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recently published the results of a study with respect to the rates of infection when a patient has been prescribed antibiotics on an outpatient basis and/or when he or she has visited the emergency department of a hospital. For the purposes of the study, researchers examined 452 patients and the rates of Clostridium difficile infection in the community. While the infection primarily is associated with hospital patients, a fair number of people also contract the infection out in the community, which can lead to life-threatening diarrhea.

As it turns out, the usage of outpatient antibiotics is a primary risk factor for contracting this infection. More specifically, 82% those who contracted the infection in the community had been treated in an outpatient care setting, and 62% of them had taken antibiotics prescribed on an outpatient basis. Furthermore, those patients who had received care in the emergency room of a hospital in the prior three months were far more likely to have contracted the infection in the community than those who had not. This finding was completely independent of the researchers’ finding with regard to outpatient antibiotic usage. The statistics suggest that emergency rooms may be a major source of the infection that occurs outside the hospital and in the community at large.

Serious infections are just one problem that can result from antibiotic usage and visits to hospital emergency rooms. Plus, the risk of infection, which continues when your loved one remains in the community, can make choosing between long-term care facilities and in-home care an even more difficult decision. If in-home senior care or long-term facility care should lead to abuse, injuries, or theft, you may have legal grounds for a lawsuit against the individual and agency that caused the abuse or neglect. If you or a loved one is in this situation, you should definitely contact an experienced Wisconsin elder abuse and neglect attorney at Boller & Vaughan. We know how to protect your rights and potentially get you compensation for any injuries that occurred. When professional caregivers fail to meet the duty of care owed to you or your loved one, it is up to you to hold negligent Wisconsin home health care agencies responsible for their actions. Contact Boller & Vaughan today and see what assistance we can offer you and your family.