Heavy Bacteria Infection Charge Against Doctor

Serious Bacteria Infection After Operation: Procuratorate Charges Physician

01/06/2011

The prosecution has filed charges against a doctor from Fulda. The orthopedic surgeon is accused of operating in a private operations center, where a total of three patients are said to have contracted a serious bacterial infection on the same day. The authorities assume that the medical equipment has been insufficiently cleaned.

According to the public prosecutor Fulda, a doctor in an operating center is said to have taken a medical procedure in a total of three patients. After the operation, the patients should have become infected with bacteria. An older patient had to have her leg amputated because of a subsequent streptococcal infection. The 60-year-old had previously had a simple operation in the outpatient center. The woman was previously in a coma for three weeks. Another patient, previously treated at the medical center, was diagnosed with acute renal failure. The affected person had to undergo surgery ten times to stabilize his health. The third patient has also been hit hard. She also needed a total of ten procedures to rescue her lower leg. All three patients were treated on the same day in private practice in April. The health authorities responded immediately and closed the doctor's office after announcing the incidents.

According to prosecutors, the accused doctor should not have taken sufficient care of the patients, although they complained of massive pain. The physician, who already has over 30 years of professional experience, was affected by Hessian radio about the incident. "It's shocking, I do not have an explanation," said the doctor.

The investigating authorities are currently investigating for negligent bodily injury in three cases as well as due to a violation of the Medical Devices Act (MPG). Among other things, this law requires how medical equipment be cleaned. According to the prosecutor, the doctor would not have complied properly. In addition, the operating room hall should have been operated without the prescribed ventilation technology. Clearly in 2008, inadequacies in hygiene had apparently been found in practice.

Streptococci are bacteria and belong to the normal bacterial society that settle in and on humans. In most cases, the bacteria are completely harmless, but some species can cause serious illnesses. An infection usually takes place via droplets in the air, which are then absorbed through the respiratory tract. So far, 84 bacterial strains of this species are known. In rare cases, streptococci can cause a toxic shock. (Sb)

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