Raizner Slania has filed a Bair Hugger Staph infection lawsuit on behalf of a Colorado couple against 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare after the wife suffered a severe infection.
In December 2011, the plaintiff underwent a right total knee arthroplasty in which the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used throughout the scope of the procedure. The Bair Hugger caused contaminants to be introduced into the plaintiff’s open surgical wound, causing the development of a deep joint infection or DJI. The pathogen identified was staphylococcus aureus.
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is known commonly as a staph infection. S. aureus is a gram-positive, round-shaped bacterium, meaning it has very thick cell walls. These thick walls can make S. aureus difficult to treat. When on the skin, S. aureus can cause swelling, boils, pimples, and other staph infections. However, when S. aureus is inside the body it can cause life-threatening infections like pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia, among others.
As a result of the infection caused by the Bair Hugger, the plaintiff was forced to undergo extensive medical treatment including multiple irrigation and debridements with synovectomy and polyethylene exchanges and long-term PICC line antibiotics.
Why Are DJIs So Dangerous?
Ordinarily when bacteria are present in the body, it triggers an immune system response which helps fight the infection. However, when bacteria are present on artificial joints it doesn’t trigger an immune system response, meaning the bacteria can go unchecked and cause life-threatening conditions.
The Bair Hugger is used to regulate a patient’s body temperature during surgery, but a defect in its design allows contaminated air to be spread over open surgical wounds. This distributes bacteria onto artificial joints and causes difficult-to-treat infections.
The plaintiffs allege they were never warned about the dangerous infection risk associated with Bair Hugger by the manufacturers. Not only has the plaintiff wife suffered physically, but the couple has also suffered financially. The plaintiffs had the right to know about all risks associated with the Bair Hugger prior to its use.
Bair Hugger Staph Infection AttorneysÂ
If you or someone you love sustained an infection from a hip or knee joint surgery within the last five years, you may be able to hold 3M and Arizant responsible. Contact the Bair Hugger staph infection attorneys at Raizner Slania today for a free consultation to discuss your case.
