What Are the 6 Most Common Hospital-Acquired Infections?

When you develop an infection during a hospital stay, you may be told it is a known risk, an unfortunate side effect, or simply part of recovery. You deserve answers and peace of mind about whether the hospital could have prevented the infection that disrupted your recovery.

The CDC estimates that about 1 in 31 hospital patients has a healthcare-associated infection on any given day. This shows how often patients face infections that could have been prevented and why daily checks, hand hygiene, and timely removal of devices are essential to reduce serious complications.

Here is a closer look at what are 6 most common hospital-acquired infections, their causes, and when a hospital can be held responsible.

With more than 100 years of combined legal experience and over $200 million recovered for victims of medical negligence, Hodes Milman has the resources and trial record to take on hospitals when they fail their patients. Call (949) 640-8222 for a free, confidential case review.

Hospital-Acquired Infection Examples: The 6 Most Common

1. Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI)

A central line is a catheter placed into a large vein, typically in the neck, chest, or groin, to deliver medication or fluids directly into the bloodstream. Bacteria can enter through the insertion site or travel along the catheter, causing a bloodstream infection.

CLABSI causes high fever, chills, and low blood pressure. The infection can enter the bloodstream directly, spread quickly, and develop into life-threatening sepsis within hours if untreated. Staff must use proper insertion techniques, sterile dressings, and check the catheter site daily. Skipping these steps is a failure of basic patient safety.

2. Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI)

Urinary catheters rank among the most commonly used devices in hospitals. Bacteria can travel up the catheter and into the bladder, causing infection. Symptoms include burning, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, pelvic pain, and fever.

CAUTI is one of the most preventable hospital-acquired infections. In many cases, prevention simply requires removing the catheter as soon as it is no longer medically necessary. Keeping a catheter in place beyond clinical need is a known safety failure, and hospitals have clear, established procedures to prevent it. Patients who develop CAUTI can experience pain, fever, and longer hospital stays.

3. Surgical Site Infections (SSI)

A surgical site infection develops at or near the location of a surgical incision. Depending on how deep the infection spreads, it may affect the skin, deeper tissue, or internal organs. Signs often include redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, and fever, which may appear days after a procedure.

Sterile technique during surgery, proper wound care, and post-operative monitoring prevent these infections. When care teams ignore these standards, patients face longer healing, more surgeries, and sometimes permanent complications.

4. Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

Patients on mechanical ventilators cannot clear their airways normally. Bacteria from the mouth or stomach can travel down the breathing tube and into the lungs, causing pneumonia. Ventilator-associated pneumonia typically develops 48 hours or more after ventilation begins.

Care protocols for ventilated patients include elevating the head of the bed, providing regular oral care, and assessing daily whether the patient still needs the ventilator. Neglecting those steps significantly increases the likelihood of serious lung infections that can complicate recovery.

5. Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)

C. diff is a type of bacteria that causes severe diarrhea and colon inflammation. It often develops when prolonged or heavy antibiotic use disrupts the normal balance of gut bacteria, allowing C. diff to multiply rapidly.

Hospitals must carefully monitor antibiotic use and follow strict sanitation steps, such as disinfecting patient rooms, cleaning medical equipment between uses, and ensuring staff wash their hands thoroughly, because the bacteria can spread through contaminated surfaces or hands.

Patients over 65, those with weakened immune systems, and anyone on a long course of antibiotics face an elevated risk. C. diff can recur repeatedly and, in severe cases, lead to bowel perforation or toxic megacolon, causing prolonged hospital stays and additional medical procedures.

6. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus bacteria resistant to many common antibiotics. It can colonize the skin without causing immediate illness and then invade the body through a wound, catheter, or surgical site. Active MRSA infections can include skin infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections that are difficult to treat.

Screening high-risk patients, isolating those who test positive, and enforcing contact precautions across all staff are established measures used to control MRSA spread. When hospitals fail to consistently screen high-risk patients, isolate those with infections, or enforce contact precautions among staff, MRSA can spread from patient to patient inside the facility.

Hospital-acquired infections can extend recovery, lead to complications, and increase medical bills. If you or a loved one has been affected, Hodes Milman can help assess whether the infection may have been preventable and if you may have a legal claim. Call (949) 640-8222 or contact us online for a free, confidential case review.

What Causes Hospital-Acquired Infections?

Hospital-acquired infections develop when bacteria, fungi, or viruses enter the body during or after medical care. Patients who are already sick or recovering from surgery often have weakened immune defenses, and devices such as catheters, IV lines, ventilators, and surgical incisions can create entry points for infectious organisms.

Many infections happen when staff skip basic safety steps like handwashing, sterilizing equipment, or removing catheters promptly. The most common causes include:

• Contaminated medical equipment that was not properly sterilized between uses,
• Staff who skip handwashing or gloving protocols between patients,
• Invasive devices left in place longer than medically necessary,
• Antibiotic overuse that allows drug-resistant strains to develop and spread, and
• Understaffing that leads to lapses in basic safety protocols.

When Does a Hospital-Acquired Infection Become Medical Negligence?

Infections can develop even when care teams follow every protocol correctly. Medical negligence occurs when a hospital has the means to prevent an infection, the medical standard of care requires specific action, and the staff fails to take it.

Legal claims in these cases typically involve:

• Staff who did not follow sterile technique during catheter insertion or surgical procedures,
• Hand hygiene protocols that went unenforced among providers,
• Invasive devices left in place longer than medically justified,
• Early warning signs of infection that were ignored or undertreated, or
• Patients with known risk factors who received no additional monitoring or precautions.

California law allows a claim to be filed within one year of discovery or three years from the negligent act. Speak with an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and avoid losing records or missing deadlines.

Talk to a Hospital Negligence Lawyer About Your Infection

If you developed an infection during or after a hospital stay and want to know whether it may have been preventable, Hodes Milman can help you find out. Our firm has spent over 30 years taking on hospitals and medical providers throughout Southern California, securing more than $200 million for injured clients and their families.

To discuss your legal options after a hospital-acquired infection, call (949) 640-8222 or contact us online. All consultations are free and confidential.