Infections caused by bed sores are often a direct result of nursing home neglect. Staff failures like not turning patients regularly, not cleaning wounds properly, or failing to document changes in skin integrity allow pressure injuries to worsen.
Families who discover a loved one has suffered from serious infections linked to bed sores may have grounds for compensation. A nursing home abuse lawyer can help victims and families hold negligent facilities accountable for their failures.
Bed sores form when constant pressure on the skin reduces blood flow, causing tissue damage. When left untreated, pressure injuries can break open, exposing deeper layers of vulnerable tissue to harmful bacteria. This creates a direct pathway for infections that can quickly spread, leading to severe medical complications.
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that commonly develops when bacteria enter through an open pressure sore. It causes redness, warmth, swelling, pain, and sometimes fever around the affected area. In elderly nursing home residents, cellulitis can spread quickly, leading to deeper infections and systemic illness if not treated immediately.
Cellulitis often begins subtly but can escalate into a serious problem within days. Nursing home staff must recognize the signs early, obtain blood cultures if infection is suspected, and start antibiotics promptly.
Unfortunately, mismanagement is common. In many cases, staff delay wound cleaning, fail to identify infections quickly, or neglect to escalate treatment to medical providers. When cellulitis spreads unchecked, residents can experience unnecessary suffering, hospitalization, and long-term injury.
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a dangerous bacterial infection that thrives where wounds, like pressure ulcers, are not properly managed. Unlike typical staph infections, MRSA is resistant to many standard antibiotics, making it extremely difficult to treat.
Residents who develop MRSA infections through neglected bed sores are at serious risk for bloodstream infections, chronic wounds, and life-threatening complications. Preventive measures like routine wound cleaning, appropriate use of gloves, and early detection are critical in stopping MRSA from taking hold.
Sadly, many nursing homes fall short in infection control, exposing residents with decubitus ulcers to MRSA without proper protection. Untreated MRSA infections can escalate into sepsis, hospitalization, and even death, leaving families with devastating losses caused by preventable failures.
Stage 4 pressure ulcers are extremely dangerous because they can extend down to muscle and bone. When bacteria from an infected sore reach the bone, it can cause osteomyelitis—a serious bone infection that requires aggressive treatment. Symptoms include deep bone pain, fever, swelling, and redness around the wound site. Diagnosis often requires imaging tests like MRI scans and sometimes bone biopsies.
Osteomyelitis is especially concerning for elderly nursing home residents, as the infection can lead to permanent damage, surgery, or even amputation. Poor wound healing and lack of preventive measures allow pressure injuries to reach this critical stage.
Nursing home staff must act swiftly when early signs of infection appear to prevent bacteria from invading the bone. Failing to do so can result in catastrophic, irreversible outcomes for vulnerable residents.
When bed sores develop near major joints like the hips, knees, or shoulders, bacteria can travel into the joint space and cause septic arthritis. This painful and serious condition leads to joint inflammation, swelling, intense pain, fever, and decreased movement. Septic arthritis can destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
Residents with mobility challenges are especially vulnerable, as prolonged pressure over joints increases the risk of pressure ulcers forming in these critical areas. Nursing homes must monitor high-risk areas carefully and use preventive measures like regular repositioning and thorough skin inspections.
When staff members fail to recognize pressure injuries near joints or ignore signs of infection, residents can suffer lasting joint damage, permanent disability, or the need for surgical intervention.
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to infection and is one of the deadliest complications associated with pressure ulcers. Bacteria from an infected sore can enter the bloodstream, triggering widespread inflammation that can lead to organ failure and death within hours if not treated aggressively.
Symptoms of sepsis include fever, confusion, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, and dangerously low blood pressure. Residents with decubitus ulcers who develop infections require immediate monitoring for signs of sepsis. Nursing homes that fail to identify early warning signs or delay emergency medical care place residents at extreme risk.
Sepsis is often fatal, particularly for older adults with weakened immune systems or other risk factors. Families who lose a loved one due to untreated infections caused by pressure ulcers have strong grounds for filing wrongful death claims.
Certain risk factors make bed sore infections more severe and harder to treat in nursing home residents.
Diabetes can slow wound healing and compromise immune responses, increasing the risk of serious infections. Immobility due to paralysis, strokes, or advanced age makes residents more likely to develop chronic wounds. Malnutrition weakens the body’s defenses against infection and impairs skin integrity.
Poor staffing levels mean fewer skin checks, slower response to call lights, and delayed wound treatment. Residents suffering from multiple sclerosis or spinal injuries face compounded risks due to impaired mobility and sensation.
Recognizing these risk factors is essential for facilities aiming to prevent life-threatening pressure ulcer infections—but sadly, neglect remains widespread.
Residents with spinal injuries face even higher risks of developing serious infections from pressure ulcers. Loss of sensation means that residents with spinal damage may not feel the early warning signs of skin breakdown, such as pain or pressure.
Without regular skin inspections and preventive measures like frequent repositioning, chronic wounds can quickly form and become infected. Nursing home staff must conduct detailed skin assessments, particularly over bony areas where pressure is greatest.
Neglecting these responsibilities puts residents with spinal injuries at extreme risk of life-threatening infections.
Bed sore infections often result from clear acts of nursing home neglect. Federal and state regulations require nursing facilities to develop and follow comprehensive care plans aimed at preventing pressure ulcers and promoting wound healing.
When staff members fail to reposition residents, ignore early signs of skin damage, neglect wound care, or fail to monitor infections, they can be held legally responsible. Families may sue for medical expenses, pain and suffering, infection-related hospitalization costs, or wrongful death damages.
Documenting the facility’s neglect and consulting an experienced attorney is critical to pursuing justice.
Pressure ulcers should never reach the point where they cause life-threatening infections. If your loved one developed infections due to bed sores due to poor care in a nursing home, you have the right to hold the facility accountable.
At Nursing Home Law Center, we advocate for residents and families harmed by neglect. Our experienced bedsore attorneys can help you pursue compensation for medical bills, pain, suffering, and loss.Call us at (800) 926–7565 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation. Protect your loved one’s dignity—and demand accountability when nursing homes fail to provide proper care.