Bedsores Leading to Sepsis in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities

If an elderly patient develops severe Stage III or Stage IV Bed sores at a nursing home and does not receive the proper care, they may also suffer from Sepsis.

Sepsis can be fatal, therefore early detection of Sepsis is very important as it provides a higher chance of survival for the patient.

Stages of Sepsis

If bed sores form on a patient in a nursing facility, they may advance rapidly to stage four and lead to a life-threatening infection such as sepsis. Categorized by the level of severity for a patient, sepsis appears in 3 stages:

Stage 1

The first phase of sepsis involves initial bacterial infection. An elderly patient should be tested for sepsis if they experience an elevated heart rate, high fever, or heavy respiration.

Stage 2

Stage two sepsis is severe. In the second stage, a patient may experience any of the aforementioned conditions alongside organ failure.

Stage 3

Stage three sepsis includes septic shock and low blood pressure levels, often leading to death.

Common Symptoms of Sepsis

If a patient suffers from an infection at a nursing home, it is crucial that they immediately get tested for an official diagnosis.

Patients with sepsis require close medical attention. Take immediate action if your elderly loved one is facing any of the following symptoms:

• Hyperventilation
• Low blood pressure
• Respiratory issues
• Abnormal fever
• Hypothermia
• Memory loss
• Blood clots

An official diagnosis determines when a patient’s condition is life-threatening. Nursing and Assisted Living facilities should never let it get to this point.

Treatments for Sepsis

Early-stage sepsis may be treated with certain prescribed antibiotics. However, severe septic shock may require additional medical treatment, such as ICP monitoring or a catheter. Patients may also require ventilators for oxygen and surgical procedures to remove the infected areas.

Nursing homes must provide direct medical attention and treat sepsis as soon as it appears. Otherwise, an elderly patient’s life may be at risk.

Since conditions can worsen rapidly, patients with Sepsis may be best treated at an intensive care unit.

Is Sepsis Preventable?

Not all cases of sepsis are preventable, but many of the underlying causes associated with sepsis are. When a patient receives superior care in a long-term care facility, sepsis is not as likely to develop.

An at-fault nursing facility may delay treatment, ignore medical symptoms, have insufficient staffing, or fail to implement adequate care practices. If this happens, the nursing home / assisted living facility may be at fault for elder abuse and neglect.

If you suspect your loved one is suffering from neglect or abuse at a California long-term care facility, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with us. Together, we shall hold negligent facilities accountable.

Take immediate action by contacting The Peck Law Group attorneys today at 866-999-9085, or by filling out the contact form on this site.