Infant Sepsis Birth Injuries
From wombs to warmers, infants are susceptible to sepsis, a potentially fatal blood infection that requires urgent, case-specific treatment. According to Cleveland Clinic, neonatal sepsis can result in whole-body swelling that can affect an infant’s organs and even lead to organ failure.1 In addition to organ dysfunction, septic shock can occur, increasing the level of infection severity and the potential for death.2 When medical malpractice negligence is part of the equation, parents of infants who have sustained sepsis birth injuries generally seek direction, answers, and justice.
What causes sepsis in newborns?
While bacterial infections are the most common cause of sepsis, viruses, fungi, and even parasites can cause it.1 Causes in newborns can also include:1,2,3,4
* Bacteria in maternal birth canal
* Infected amniotic fluid
* Exposure to infection in a hospital, birthing center, or home
* Exposure to Escherichia coli, Listeria, Group B strep, other strep bacteria
* Failure to properly monitor maternal health, particularly in high-risk mothers
When can sepsis occur in an infant?
Before birth and during or after delivery. While medical literature varies on the definition of early-onset neonatal sepsis and late-onset neonatal sepsis, occurrence timing generally includes that from directly after birth up to and including 28 days after birth.5,6
What are some symptoms of sepsis in newborns?
There are a number of symptoms indicative of sepsis in newborns, including:1,6
*Fever
*Paleness
*Reduced eating
*Irritability
*Vomiting
*Diarrhea
*Breathing changes
*Jaundice
*Seizures
*Impetigo
What if my baby’s sepsis birth injury was caused by provable medical malpractice?
Regardless of the cause of a sepsis birth injury in a newborn, in cases of provable medical malpractice negligence parents often seek legal assistance. Proving medical malpractice negligence in sepsis birth injury cases presents specific legal challenges. Effectively demonstrating that the current established standard of care was not met and therefore resulted in injury to a baby is essential. Hiring an expert attorney or legal team experienced in sepsis birth injuries is important. Doing so helps to ensure that maximum compensation is received by parents for their sepsis birth injury negligence settlement in order to pay for care and services for their child. This is of particular importance when a child’s sepsis-related required care and services will be ongoing.
Meeting with an experienced Florida sepsis birth injury lawyer for an initial consultation to discuss your child’s sepsis birth injury is an important step. It can be helpful to research information about lawyers who specialize in sepsis birth injuries, or if possible, who specialize in sepsis birth injury cases or the exact type of birth injury your child has provably sustained.
Many lawyers and legal teams offer free initial consultations. At Mallard & Sharp, P.A., we specialize in a wide variety of birth injuries in Miami Florida including sepsis birth injuries. To schedule a free initial consultation with our expert legal team call 877.662.5527 or 305.461.4800.
1 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15371-sepsis-in-newborns
2 https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=sepsis-90-P02410
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4031877/