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Hospital Infection Outbreak Litigation Attorney
When a patient undergoes surgery or receives hospital care, the risk of infection should be controlled and understood. But in some cases, infections are not isolated or unavoidable. They are the result of systemic failures that expose multiple patients to the same dangerous pathogen.
McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips represents individuals and families affected by infection outbreaks linked to contaminated medical devices, hospital water systems, and other institutional failures. These cases are fundamentally different from routine medical malpractice claims. They require investigation into the source of contamination, coordination across multiple victims, and the resources to take on hospitals, healthcare systems, and medical device manufacturers.
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Hospital Infection Outbreak Cases Are Not Routine Medical Malpractice
Most law firms handling infection claims focus on common hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA, urinary tract infections, or post-operative complications. Our firm does not handle those cases.
We focus on outbreak-driven litigation, where:
- Multiple patients are exposed to the same infectious source
- The infection can be traced to a device, system, or environmental condition
- The exposure often occurs over months or years before detection
- The underlying failure involves systemic breakdowns rather than isolated mistakes
These cases often involve complex scientific and medical issues, including epidemiology, infectious disease analysis, and engineering failures.
Types of Infection Outbreak Cases We Handle
McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips represent victims of a wide range of healthcare-associated infections throughout South Carolina, including:
Contaminated Medical Devices
Certain medical devices have been linked to the spread of dangerous infections when they become contaminated or are improperly designed or maintained. One of the most significant examples involves heater-cooler devices used during open-heart surgery, which have been associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections.
These cases may involve claims against manufacturers for defective design, failure to warn, and failure to prevent contamination.
Hospital Water System Contamination
Hospital plumbing systems can harbor bacteria such as NTM, which can spread through aerosolized water in operating rooms and other clinical settings. Patients can be exposed during surgery or treatment when hospitals fail to properly maintain or remediate these systems.
These cases often require a detailed investigation into infrastructure, maintenance practices, and infection control protocols.
Healthcare-Associated Infection Clusters
In some situations, hospitals or healthcare providers identify, or should identify, clusters of infections tied to a common source. Failure to recognize, investigate, or respond to these outbreaks can place additional patients at risk.
Representative Matters
Our firm has been involved in litigation arising from some of the most significant infection outbreaks in the region, including:
- Claims related to NTM infections associated with Sorin 3T heater-cooler devices used during cardiac surgery
- Ongoing litigation involving LivaNova, the manufacturer of those devices
- Cases arising from NTM outbreaks linked to contaminated hospital water systems, including prior litigation involving Roper Hospital
These matters involve extensive factual development, expert analysis, and coordination across multiple affected patients.
Who May Be Liable in a Hospital Infection Outbreak
In outbreak cases, responsibility often extends beyond a single provider. Liable parties may include:
- Hospitals and healthcare systems for failures in infection control, facility maintenance, or patient safety protocols
- Medical device manufacturers for defective design, contamination risks, or inadequate warnings
- Third-party vendors or maintenance providers responsible for equipment or water system management
Identifying the source of an outbreak and the parties responsible requires a thorough and coordinated investigation.
Why Hospital Infection Outbreak Cases Require Experienced Counsel
Infection outbreak cases are among the most complex in healthcare litigation. They demand:
- Access to qualified medical, scientific, and engineering experts
- The ability to analyze patterns across multiple patients and procedures
- Experience litigating against large healthcare institutions and product manufacturers
- Resources to develop evidence over extended timelines
McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips has decades of experience handling complex litigation, including mass torts and cases involving systemic harm.
Speak with Our Hospital Infection Outbreak Litigation Attorney
If you or a family member developed a serious infection following surgery or believes you may have been exposed as part of a hospital-related outbreak, we can help evaluate your case.
Contact McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips for a confidential consultation.
