Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney Blog | Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis LLP

In an Australian home, the basest form of nursing home neglect may have killed as many as 10. In the New South Wales nursing home, residents were served old food that led to an outbreak of gastroenteritis. The outbreak was the result of Clostridium perfringens, bacteria that grows in old food, especially old meat. The infection causes diarrhea and abdominal cramps, which can exacerbate the dehydration often experienced by neglected nursing home residents. More intense infections can cause gaseous expansion in the intestines, leading to intestinal damage and even death from toxic shock.

80 residents at the home complained of symptoms, and during the outbreak 10 residents died. It is unclear how many of the residents that died during the outbreak actually died as a result of their infection, but many of those whose death seems to be not directly caused by the gastroenteritis had symptoms before their death and may have been weakened by the disease.

Although food inspectors at the nursing home have declared that there is no ongoing risk at this home, the risk for nursing home populations is always ongoing. With weakened immune systems, nursing home residents are susceptible to any number of food poisoning types, including Salmonella varieties, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium botulinum. In selecting a nursing home, make sure to check out the cafeteria facilities in depth, including inquiring about any past outbreaks.

If your loved one has been hurt as a result of food poisoning at a nursing home, contact the experienced nursing home neglect lawyers at Pomerantz, Perlberger, and Lewis, LLP today for a free initial consultation.