Hospitals are meant to be places of healing, but for many patients, they become the source of entirely new—and completely preventable—medical complications. Hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and C. difficile occur far more often than most families realize, and in many cases, they are the result of insufficient sanitation, poor infection-control practices, or a failure to follow basic safety protocols. These infections can lead to prolonged hospital stays, emergency surgeries, severe complications, and even life-threatening conditions. At Frischman & Rizza, based in Pittsburgh, PA, we help patients and families understand how these failures occur and whether hospital negligence played a role in their loved one’s suffering.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are not mysterious or unavoidable. Decades of research have identified clear steps hospitals must take to reduce infection risk. When those steps are ignored or inconsistently applied, preventable harm occurs. This blog explores what causes these infections, how lapses in hospital protocols contribute, and what legal rights patients have when these failures rise to the level of malpractice.

What Makes MRSA and C. diff So Dangerous?

MRSA and C. difficile are two of the most serious HAIs because they thrive in medical environments and spread rapidly when infection-control procedures fail.

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a drug-resistant bacteria that can enter the body through open wounds, surgical incisions, IV lines, or catheters. Once inside, it can cause severe bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or deep tissue damage.

C. difficile (C. diff) is an intestinal infection often triggered after antibiotic use. It causes intense diarrhea, severe inflammation of the colon, dehydration, and in some cases, life-threatening complications such as toxic megacolon.

Both infections are dangerous because:

• They spread easily in unsanitary or unmonitored environments
• Immunocompromised or elderly patients are highly vulnerable
• Early symptoms are often dismissed or misattributed to other conditions
• Delayed treatment increases the risk of long-term harm
• Some strains resist standard antibiotic treatment

Hospitals are required to implement prevention protocols precisely because these infections are known, predictable, and preventable.

How Hospital-Acquired Infections Occur: A System Failure, Not a Fluke

While some patients assume HAIs are an unfortunate part of being hospitalized, many infections develop only when hospitals fail to enforce their own safety policies. Prevention is not optional—it is a mandated component of hospital care.

Common protocol failures include:

• Inconsistent handwashing between patient interactions
• Reusing equipment or failing to properly disinfect surfaces
• Poor sterile technique during wound care or surgical procedures
• Inadequate sanitation of high-touch areas
• Overcrowded rooms or non-isolated infectious patients
• Staff shortages leading to rushed or careless practices
• Not following antibiotic stewardship guidelines
• Failing to quickly identify and contain infectious patients

A single breakdown can spark an outbreak. When several occur at once, infection rates rise sharply.

Many families do not realize how fast MRSA or C. diff can spread until the infection worsens. Some patients enter the hospital for routine procedures only to find themselves battling circumstances that should never have occurred.

Recognizing Symptoms of MRSA and C. diff in the Hospital Setting

Identifying symptoms early can drastically improve outcomes. However, hospital staff are responsible for monitoring patients for these signs, especially when risk factors exist.

MRSA symptoms may include:

• Red, swollen, or painful skin lesions around surgical sites
• Warmth or pus drainage at an incision
• Fever or chills following surgery
• Rapid onset of pain at IV or catheter sites
• Sudden breathing difficulties if pneumonia develops

C. diff symptoms often include:

• Watery diarrhea several times a day
• Abdominal pain or tenderness
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Severe inflammation of the colon

When symptoms like these arise, providers must act quickly. Failure to recognize infection symptoms or delay in testing can allow these conditions to escalate rapidly. Hospitals should never take a “wait and see” approach with HAIs.

Why MRSA and C. diff Infections Are Often Preventable

Although infections occur in all medical environments, MRSA and C. diff rates can be significantly reduced with proper procedures. Hospitals are federally evaluated on their infection-control performance, meaning facilities know exactly what steps are required to minimize risk.

Effective prevention strategies include:

• Mandatory hand hygiene training
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Routine surface disinfection
• Isolation protocols for contagious patients
• Safe IV and catheter handling
• Minimizing unnecessary antibiotic use
• Regular testing and monitoring for early cases

When hospitals cut corners—whether due to staffing shortages, cost-saving measures, poor leadership, or simple negligence—patients suffer the consequences.

If a hospital cannot enforce basic safety, the burden of that failure should not fall on the patient or their family.

How Poor Protocols Lead to Preventable Harm

In many malpractice cases involving MRSA or C. diff, a pattern of negligence emerges. The infection does not occur in isolation—it arises because of preventable breakdowns at multiple points.

Some contributing failures include:

• Patients placed in rooms previously occupied by infected individuals without proper sanitation
• Staff rushing between rooms and skipping handwashing
• Failure to clean shared medical equipment
• Ignoring early signs of infection
• Delay in initiating isolation or quarantine procedures
• Not educating staff on infection-control updates
• Inadequate supervision by hospital leadership

When hospitals fail to protect patients from infections they know how to prevent, the law may consider this negligence.

When Hospital-Acquired Infection Becomes Medical Malpractice

Not every infection is malpractice. But when hospitals do not follow accepted infection-control standards, or when staff fail to monitor and respond appropriately, patients have legal grounds to pursue a claim.

Malpractice may exist when:

• The hospital violated its own infection prevention policies
• Staff did not properly disinfect rooms or equipment
• Providers ignored warning signs of infection
• The hospital did not isolate infected patients promptly
• There was a known outbreak and patients were not protected
• Diagnoses were delayed despite classic symptoms
• A preventable infection caused significant complications

To establish malpractice, attorneys must demonstrate that the hospital failed to meet the standard of care and that this failure directly caused the infection or worsened outcome.

How Attorneys Build a Case for MRSA or C. diff Malpractice

Investigating hospital infections requires access to detailed documentation and expert medical reviews. At Frischman & Rizza, we focus on reconstructing what the hospital knew, when they knew it, and what they should have done differently.

A strong case includes reviewing:

• Infection-control logs
• Cleaning schedules and sanitation records
• Staff training files
• Patient charts and symptom timelines
• Laboratory test results
• Antibiotic administration records
• Hospital compliance with state and federal guidelines
• Prior infection outbreaks at the facility

Experts in infectious disease, nursing, and hospital administration help determine whether protocols were followed and whether earlier action could have prevented harm.

Damages Available in Hospital Infection Cases

Hospital-acquired infections can cause long-term physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Victims may be entitled to compensation for:

• Extended hospitalization and treatment
• Surgery or intensive antibiotic therapy
• Long-term health complications
• Lost wages or reduced earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Future medical needs
• In fatal cases, wrongful death damages for families

C. diff and MRSA can be especially devastating in older adults and immunocompromised patients, making compensation critical for long-term care needs.

Why Patients Trust Frischman & Rizza With Hospital Infection Cases

Hospital infection cases require attention to detail, a deep understanding of medical standards, and persistence in uncovering systemic failures. Families turn to Frischman & Rizza because of our extensive experience with hospital negligence, infection-control failures, and malpractice claims involving preventable harm.

Our purpose is not only to pursue compensation, but to help families understand why the infection happened and whether it could—and should—have been prevented.

What Families Should Do If They Suspect a Preventable Hospital Infection

If you or a loved one developed MRSA or C. diff during a hospital stay, here are important steps to take:

• Request your full medical records, including lab results
• Document symptoms and the timeline of the infection
• Save discharge paperwork, test results, and bills
• Note discussions with medical staff about cleanliness or protocol lapses
• Contact an attorney experienced in hospital infection cases

Early consultation helps preserve evidence and strengthens your ability to pursue legal action.

You Deserve Answers—And Accountability

Hospital-acquired infections are not always unavoidable complications. When prevention protocols fail, patients suffer consequences that could have been prevented. If you believe hospital negligence led to a MRSA or C. diff infection, you have the right to demand answers. Call Frischman & Rizza at (412) 247-7300 to speak with a hospital infection lawyer who can review your case, explain your options, and help your family seek justice.