Raizner Slania filed a Bair Hugger staph infection lawsuit on behalf of a Kentucky couple against manufacturers 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare after the wife sustained a staph infection from the device.
In July 2015, the plaintiff underwent a right total knee replacement surgery in which the Bair Hugger was used to regulate her temperature. As a direct result of the use of the Bair Hugger warming blanket, contaminants were introduced into the plaintiff’s open surgical wound. The contaminants caused her to develop a deep joint infection, more commonly referred to as DJI. The pathogens identified were methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus, proteus mirabilis, and morganella morganii.
Methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus or MSSA, is a type of bacteria commonly called a staph infection. However, what makes this MSSA infection different than a common staph infection is bacteria grows on the artificial joint. This makes the infection more difficult to treat. Proteus mirabilis is a type of bacteria commonly associated with hospitals. Left untreated, this type of infection can be life-threatening and even fatal. Morganella morganii is a gram-negative bacteria often found in surgery patients.
As a result of plaintiff’s infections caused by the Bair Hugger, she had to undergo additional medical treatments, including multiple irrigation and debridements with hardware exchanges, long-term PICC line antibiotics, and long-term oral antibiotics. Unfortunately, she suffered additional complications from the infection treatment, including renal failure requiring a month-long hospital stay and hemodialysis.
Not only has the patient suffered physical pain from the infections, but she has also been burdened with a huge economic loss from the extensive additional medical treatments required.
The plaintiff believes the Bair Hugger is unreasonably dangerous and manufacturers failed to warn her of the infection risk associated with the device. The plaintiff also alleges the companies violated Kentucky’s consumer fraud and/or unfair and deceptive trade practice laws.
Raizner Slania: Bair Hugger Staph Infection Lawsuit Attorneys
If you suffered from an infection after a hip or knee joint replacement surgery within the last five years, call the experienced defective device attorneys at Raizner Slania today. We can analyze your situation and help you understand your legal options. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
