Sarasota UTI Attorney
If you have a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility in Sarasota, or you have an elderly loved one who has recently been receiving care at a hospital, it is important to seek advice about filing a claim if your loved one developed a serious urinary tract infection (UTI). While UTIs can be relatively common in some younger people, they are cause for serious concern in older adults, and they can lead to symptoms that can include delirium and even death. At Kohn Law, we are committed to representing clients in UTI cases in Southwest Florida, and you should contact our experienced Sarasota UTI attorney today for assistance with your case.
Getting the Facts About UTIs in Sarasota
According to an article in Aging Health, UTIs are a serious problem for older adults, leading to overmedication with antibiotics in circumstances where an antibiotic is unnecessary, as well as lack of care in situations where a patient may be asymptomatic. A urinary tract infection is defined in general as “an infection of the urinary system, and may involve the lower urinary tract or both the lower and upper urinary tracts.” UTIs are among the “most commonly diagnosed infections in older adults,” according to the article, and UTIs are “the most frequently diagnosed infection in long-term care residents.” In addition to these facts, the following information comes from Aging Health and from the Cleveland Clinic:
- UTIs are account for approximately one-third of all infections diagnosed in nursing homes;
- Men are diagnosed with UTIs more often than men, although the overall rate of UTI increases significantly for both men and women over the age of 85;
- Delirium and confusion can be a sign of a UTI, but it may not necessarily signal a UTI and may instead be a sign of another condition like dehydration or a disease that requires medical attention;
- Older adults with UTIs can suffer from subsequent blood infections and falls due to delirium, which can limit mobility;
- Catheters can be a source of UTIs, especially when a patient does not have adequate personal hygiene care or when the catheter is contaminated;
- Bacteria in an older adult’s urine may not necessarily signal a UTI, so it is important not to overmedicate or to prescribe an unnecessary antibiotic until a UTI can be confirmed;
- Older adults with UTIs usually have symptoms beyond confusion that may include a fever over 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit, frequency or urgency of urination, sudden pain accompanying urination, and tenderness above the public bone; and
- UTIs can result from underlying problems that require medical attention, such as a bladder obstruction.
Statute of Limitations for a Sarasota UTI Claim
Depending on who is responsible for the UTI and any subsequent infection or injury, the statute of limitations on a UTI claim will be either two years or four years. Nursing home negligence cases in Florida have a two-year statute of limitations as do medical malpractice claims, while other types of personal injury lawsuits have a four-year statute of limitations. You should be sure to seek advice from a UTI lawyer in Sarasota as soon as possible to ensure that you file your claim in a timely manner.
Contact Kohn Law Today
Kohn Law can assist you with a UTI claim in Southwest Florida. Contact our experienced Sarasota UTI attorney today for assistance with your case.
