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Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
This is a gram +ve (stain used to differentiate) round shaped bacterium that is commonly found on the skin and in the nose. If it gets through the skin it can cause infection which may be localised or can involve the lungs, bone or blood system and become more serious. Hospital patients are of course more vulnerable to this as they may have open wounds, or tubes inserted in their bodies.
The problem is that now much of the bacteria commonly encountered have developed a resistance to the commonly used antibiotic methicillin. Some strains may not even respond to vancomycin, which is used as a last resort. This means that the condition can become extremely serious as an already unwell patient is left to recover from an untreatable infection.
The problem with bringing a claim is proving that negligence by the hospital was responsible for your infection. The number of case is undoubtedly increasing, with a significant number of deaths resulting, but many situations may have been unavoidable. Hospitals now take prevention of infection very seriously and will have protocols for e.g. disinfection and isolation of affected patients. It will be necessary to prove that such measures where not taken, before any issue of causation can be considered. This has led to many solicitors bringing actions under the Control of Substances Harmful to Health Regulations 1999 which govern the workplace use of harmful substances. It may be much easier to demonstrate that these regulations were not complied with in regards to limiting the chance of contracting an infection. This can be done from reference to general hospital policies, rather than specific lapses.
If you feel that you need to sue your doctor, or simply make a complaint against the NHS, please submit your details via the enquiry form.