Neonatal and Postnatal Infections

Postpartum and neonatal infections may be observed in different body parts. If you realize you are suffering a discomfort or unbearable pain within your body after giving birth, you need to get to your doctor. Similarly, if your newborn shows signs of infection, you should take him or her to the doctor. Neonatal and postnatal infections can be the result of medical malpractice, and if left undiagnosed or improperly untreated, they may cause injuries. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano, our Syracuse birth injury attorneys may be able to represent you in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Certain types of postpartum infections may affect the uterus, abdomen, and other body parts. These can include endometritis, puerperal mastitis, and more. Endometritis is an infection of the upper genital tract. Risk factors for endometritis include bacterial vaginosis, multiple vaginal exams, chorioamnionitis, prolonged membrane rupture, and internal monitoring. Sometimes postpartum infections are passed along in the birth canal.

Neonatal infections are those infections acquired during prenatal development in the womb or during the first month after an infant is born. Sometimes these infections are contracted through the mother or in the birth canal or due to premature rupture of membranes. In other cases, they’re contracted in the hospital once an infant has been born. A neonatal infection might be immediately apparent, or it might develop during the postnatal period. A neonatal infection like HIV or hepatitis B may not be detected until much later on.

Often preterm or low birth weight babies suffer a higher risk of infection, and this infection may be bacterial, fungal, viral or parasitic. Infections can be minor, but they can also be quite serious and may harm organs, tissues, or immune responses. In some cases they result in permanent brain damage. If an infection harms the cerebral cortex, it can result in cerebral palsy, which is irreversible and impacts muscle development, motor skills, and coordination.

Neonatal infections can increase the chances of future respiratory infections or inflammatory responses. It may be appropriate to treat neonatal infections with antibiotics if a pathogen is identified. However, there are situations in which antibiotics are insufficient. If you suspect malpractice in your case, a seasoned medical negligence lawyer can evaluate the facts of your case to determine whether you may have a claim.

Neonatal and postnatal infections can cause serious harm to a baby. For example, neonatal sepsis can be acquired either through the birthing process or in the medical environment; it is an infection in the bloodstream, and it presents serious health risks. When a health care provider fails to adequately prevent or treat neonatal sepsis, it can result in birth injuries such as septic shock, neonatal seizures, bradycardia, apnea, encephalitis, and meningitis. Encephalitis can result in an infant’s disability in the form of epilepsy or cerebral palsy. When these types of critical birth injuries are not promptly treated, they can result in permanent or severe problems. Babies with untreated birth injuries can develop handicaps or even pass away as a result of not getting appropriate medical care.

To hold a health care provider accountable for your baby’s birth injuries caused by neonatal infection, you’ll need to establish: (1) the health care provider owed a professional duty of care, (2) breach of the professional duty of care, (3) causation, and (4) damages. For example, if a doctor failed to treat neonatal sepsis when it was simply suspected and not confirmed, an infant may suffer a serious and disabling birth injury.

If you can establish liability for the failure to diagnose or treat, you may be able to recover compensatory damages on your and your child’s behalf. These are damages intended to put you back in the position you would have been in had there been no medical malpractice.

Neonatal and postnatal infection can result in serious harm in Syracuse. Birth injury cases can be difficult to establish and require, among other things, consultation with an expert, and sometimes more than one expert. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano, our dedicated lawyers represent babies and families harmed by medical malpractice in Syracuse, Rochester, and across Upstate New York, including in Canandaigua, Binghamton, Cooperstown, Ithaca, Auburn, Herkimer, Elmira, Lyons, Wampsville, Oneida, Lowville, Utica, Oswego, and Watertown. Call our firm at 833-200-2000 or contact us via our online form.