Nursing Home Infections Lawyer

Chronic infections don't just happen in nursing homes—they're often the result of neglect, poor hygiene, or delayed medical intervention.

If your loved one is battling a preventable infection, or if they passed away from one while in a facility's care, you may be asking:

• Why didn't anyone notice the infection sooner?
• Should my loved one have been hospitalized earlier?
• Were staffing or sanitary conditions to blame?

At Pierce Skrabanek, our nursing home infection lawyers work with families to uncover answers. We investigate whether a facility's actions (or inaction) caused serious illness or death through negligent care. Preventable infections in nursing homes are never "just part of aging."

Call (832) 690‑7000 or contact us online to speak with a nursing home infections lawyer experienced in elder care neglect and wrongful infection cases. There's no cost for the consultation.

“I found Mr. Skrabanek to be very trustworthy, creditable, and genuinely concerned about my well-being while I was going through this very difficult process. He showed constant concern for me being completely satisfied before making any final decisions.”

— Beverly C. | Client

How Nursing Home Infections Happen

Infections can become deadly quickly in elderly or immunocompromised individuals. Nursing homes are legally required to take extra steps to prevent this, starting with basic hygiene, proper wound care, and early detection.

Unfortunately, we routinely find that infections are linked to facilities that failed in their duty of care. Nursing home infections may result from:

• Poor sanitation of living quarters or shared restrooms,
• Unchanged protective bedding or adult diapers,
• Unlocked doors allowing mobile residents to wander into unsafe areas,
• Untreated wounds from falls or pressure ulcers, or
• Slow response to early signs like fever, confusion, or low blood pressure.

When infections are allowed to spread or go untreated, they can compromise the bloodstream, lungs, brain, or urinary tract, leading to permanent injury or death.

Common Nursing Home Infections That May Indicate Negligence

Not all infection cases point to wrongdoing. However, ongoing or severe infections that arise from poor hygiene or delayed treatment may be a cause for legal action.

Our nursing home infections law firm investigates facilities for patterns of care failures that allow the following infections to spread:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

UTIs are extremely common in neglected nursing home settings, often caused by infrequent diaper changes or improper catheter use. Left untreated, they can escalate to sepsis and kidney failure, particularly in female patients or those with dementia who cannot express discomfort.

Pressure Ulcers (Bedsores)

Bedsores form when an immobile resident isn't repositioned regularly. Once those open wounds develop, they're highly prone to infection. Stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers are often entirely preventable and indicate a breakdown in care standards.

Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening bloodstream infection that often develops from untreated UTIs, pneumonia, or wounds. If a facility fails to recognize warning signs such as confusion, fever, low oxygen, or chills, it may be liable for delayed diagnosis and care.

Cellulitis or MRSA

These bacterial skin infections can turn serious without immediate antibiotics. In communal settings like nursing homes, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (like MRSA) can spread quickly, especially if linens, handwashing, or wound protocols aren't strictly followed.

COVID-19 and Respiratory Infections

Nursing homes were ground zero during much of the COVID-19 pandemic, with countless wrongful deaths tied to poor containment, lack of PPE, and undertrained staff. Our firm also handles infections like pneumonia, influenza, and RSV when connected to poor infection control protocols.

What Infection Symptoms Should Families Watch For?

Your loved one may not be able to express what hurts or how they're feeling clearly. Family members are often the first to notice when something seems off.

Watch for symptoms like:

• Sudden confusion or disorientation (especially in residents with dementia);
• Difficulty speaking, waking, or breathing;
• Fever, chills, or clammy skin;
• Swelling or redness around a wound;
• Foul-smelling urine or bedding;
• Refusal to eat or drink; or
• Lethargy, weakness, or loss of balance.

Often, when a family is notified of "a complication," it's already too late. That's why quick recognition and early intervention are critical, and why we examine whether protocols were followed correctly.

You don't have to accept the explanation that it was "just an infection." If your family member suffered harm or passed away due to a preventable illness in a long-term care facility, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

Call (832) 690‑7000 or message us online to discuss whether neglect or errors contributed to a nursing home infection.