Why a UTI in a Nursing Home Could be Oregon Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infections in Nursing Homes, According to Our Oregon Attorney

 

Most people have heard of and have a basic understanding of what a urinary tract infection (“UTI”) is. It may be an infection that you have even had, that your primary doctor treated in a few days with an antibiotic, and you have not given it much thought since. However, for the elderly population living in our nursing homes across the country, and right here in Oregon, UTIs are a much larger problem, even fatal. There needs to be greater awareness about this widespread and serious issue, as it is only increasing. If you or a loved one has had a UTI that was negligently cared for in a nursing home, contact our Oregon nursing home abuse attorney today to discuss.  This is because a UTI in a nursing home could be Oregon nursing home abuse or neglect leading to serious personal injury or wrongful death.

 

About Urinary Tract Infections

 

Over 7 million men and women develop UTIs each year, which costs the health system over 1 billion dollars annually. A UTI is an infection in the urinary system, which includes the urethra, ureter, kidneys, and bladder. Most infections impact the lower urinary tract, so the bladder and urethra. Women are typically more likely to develop a UTI and the symptoms for both men and women are as follows:

 

• Persistent need to urinate
• Burning sensation while urinating
• Passing small amounts of urine, often
• Cloudy, red, bright pink, or cola-colored urine
• Pungent urine
• For women, pelvic pain

 

However, it should be noted that sometimes there are no symptoms and signs when a person has a UTI. Depending on the part of the urinary system that is infected, signs and symptoms will differ significantly.

 

What causes UTIs is bacteria, many times from the G.I. tract, that seeps into the urinary system. For the general population, other risk factors include sexual activity, menopause, certain types of birth control, particularly IUDs, and a suppressed immune system.

 

While most UTIs can be routinely treated with antibiotics, it does not always work that way. For example, UTIs can spread to the kidneys if not treated properly. If someone has chronic UTIs and there is resulting chronic kidney damage, this can lead to permanent kidney damage. Chronic UTIs can also lead to an increased risk in women delivering underweight and premature infants. Finally, sepsis, infection throughout the entire body, can occur, if the infection spreads to your kidneys. Sepsis is potentially fatal.

 

Urinary Tract Infections in the Nursing Home Population

 

Although UTIs are commonplace in the general population, their prevalence increases drastically in the elderly population residing in nursing homes. In fact, UTIs account for over a third of all nursing home infections. There are several reasons as to why nursing home residents have more and more serious and potentially fatal UTIs:

 

• Catheter use—there is a significant portion of residents in nursing homes that cannot urinate by themselves for a variety of reasons. Some may not be able to walk, others may have neurological problems, or some may be hospitalized. As such, a tube called a catheter must be used. A catheter is a tube that is inserted in the bladder to help empty the bladder and urine and let it drain into the attached bag. The reason why catheters pose a UTI risk is because there can be germs along the tube part of the catheter, that then enters into the person’s urinary tract system, and potentially bladder, or kidneys, for example.

• Suppressed immune systems—many elder populations have more health complications, and that can only increase with more age. Diabetes and other immune system diseases can cause suppression to the immune system. Accordingly, this will weaken its defenses and allow more germs to enter the body. Germs like UTIs could occur.

• Dehydration—nursing home residents may not drink enough water, possibly because staff has failed to provide the residents with water on a regular basis or enough of it. Drinking water dilutes urine, and excretes bacteria so it can exit your urinary tract system before an infection begins to develop.

 

UTIs for nursing home residents have far greater implications than your typical UTI. Think, sepsis, hospitalizations, and death. Contact our Oregon nursing home abuse attorney today to prevent these consequences from occurring to you or a loved one.

 

Ask Our Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for a FREE Consultation After a Loved One Was Diagnosed with a UTI

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect contact the Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.  

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.  

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Nursing Home Abuse cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.  

 

Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.