Infections & Sepsis in Florida Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, & Group Homes
Stages of a
Sepsis Infection
What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a severe and often life-threatening response to infection. It occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, triggering widespread inflammation that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. In nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes, sepsis frequently develops from untreated or poorly managed infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, or infected pressure sores.
The most common sources of infection include the lungs, urinary tract, skin, and gastrointestinal system. Once bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can cause septicemia, a fast-moving medical emergency requiring immediate intervention.
Who is Most at Risk?
While anyone can develop sepsis, certain individuals face a much higher risk, especially in long-term care settings. These include adults over the age of 65, individuals with weakened immune systems, and residents with chronic conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, or kidney failure. The risk also increases for those recovering from recent illnesses like aspiration pneumonia or who have been recently hospitalized. Residents who suffer from incontinence or experience poor hygiene due to inadequate care are also more vulnerable.
Nursing home, assisted living facility, and group home residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities, particularly those who are non-verbal, face even greater risk. Because these individuals may be unable to communicate symptoms such as pain, fever, or confusion, staff must be attentive and proactive in identifying changes. When caregivers miss these early warning signs, the consequences can be devastating.
When Sepsis Signals Neglect
Sepsis often points to underlying neglect. In many cases, infections that lead to sepsis could have been prevented, or caught much earlier, with basic monitoring, hygiene, and timely medical care. Facilities may be liable when they:
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Fail to monitor residents for signs of infection
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Provide inadequate wound care or catheter hygiene
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Miss early symptoms like fever, rapid breathing, or confusion
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Fail to notify a physician of a resident’s change in condition
By the time sepsis is diagnosed, the resident may already be in organ failure. At that point, it’s often too late.
Contact FIDJ for a Free Case Review
In many instances, sepsis can either be avoided or properly managed through early intervention and treatment. If your loved one suffered from sepsis while in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, contact the experienced attorneys at FIDJ for a FREE case review.
*The information contained herein is not medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Infections and Sepsis
If my family member was in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home and got sepsis, can I sue?
Yes. In most cases, sepsis in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home is preventable. These facilities are required to monitor residents for signs of infection, maintain hygiene, and ensure timely medical treatment. When staff fail to uphold their obligations, and residents suffer, facilities can be held liable. Depending on the circumstances, residents and/or families can pursue legal action to hold the facility accountable and recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and in severe cases, wrongful death.
What causes sepsis in Florida nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and/or group homes?
Sepsis almost always starts with an untreated local infection. In long-term care facilities, that can mean a urinary tract infection, infected bedsore, dirty catheter, or unclean feeding tube site. It can also come from poor hygiene, not changing bandages, not changing linens, and ignoring a fever. These problems often happen when staff are overworked, undertrained, or simply not paying attention. With proper care and quick medical attention, most infections can be addressed before causing sepsis.
What warning signs should a facility have seen to prevent my family member from getting sepsis?
Facilities must be able to recognize and respond to the early warning signs of infection before it turns into sepsis. These signs can include fever, chills, pain, swelling, discolored or foul-smelling drainage, or sudden changes in behavior (e.g., confusion, sleepiness, or loss of appetite). When staff ignore these symptoms, delay calling the resident's physician, or fail to send a resident to the hospital, the infection can spread through the bloodstream and cause sepsis. With basic monitoring, hygiene, and prompt medical attention, most cases of sepsis can be prevented.
What rights do Florida nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home residents have if an infection occurs due to neglect?
Residents in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes, are afforded legal rights. For nursing home residents, these rights can be found at Fla. Stat. § 400.022. For assisted living facility residents, these rights can be found at Fla. Stat. § 429.28. For group home residents, these rights can be found at Fla. Stat. § 393.13. Among others, these laws serve as the foundation to pursue claims against nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes when these facilities cause preventable harm, including infections like sepsis.
What compensation can a resident recover in a Florida amputation neglect case?
If the infection does not cause the resident's death, recoverable categories of damages can include economic damages (e.g., medical expenses, including those covered by third party payor sources like Medicare or Medicaid), along with non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of dignity, loss of independence, loss of the enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and disability). If the infection causes death, the resident's statutory survivors may have a claim for their pain and suffering. In cases of reckless conduct by the nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, punitive damages may also be available. These types of damages are designed to punish the facility, in addition to the economic and non-economic damages.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit for an infection caused by a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home in Florida?
Florida’s statute of limitations for nursing home, assisted living facility, and group home abuse and neglect cases is generally two years from when the injury is discovered, but specific circumstances may extend this period. It’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. For more information about statutes of limitation, check out our blog titled, "The Deadline to File a Florida Nursing Home, Assisted Living Facility, Group Home, or Adult Day Care Center Abuse or Neglect Case".
Why should I hire a Florida lawyer experienced in infection/sepsis cases?
Cases involving severe infections, including sepsis, require attorneys who understand both the medical complexities and the unique Florida laws that protect residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes. A skilled lawyer can obtain medical records, work with infection control and related medical and nursing experts, and trace how the facility’s failures led to the harm. This experience is critical to proving liability, building a strong case, and securing full compensation for the injured resident or their surviving family members, where applicable.
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...and these Florida regions
South Florida, Central Florida, North Florida, the Gulf Coast, Treasure Coast, Space Coast, the Panhandle, the Keys, Suncoast, Nature Coast, Big Bend, Emerald Coast, and First Coast.
What that Means
If you are searching for a "nursing home abuse lawyer near me", an "assisted living facility abuse lawyer near me", a "group home abuse lawyer near me", or an "adult day care center abuse lawyer near me", FIDJ has you covered.
Do you need an attorney who handles cases near you or your loved one? Our attorneys handle cases involving nursing home abuse and neglect, assisted living facility abuse and neglect, group home abuse and neglect, and adult day care center abuse and neglect in the following Florida counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington.