Common Infections Caused by Nursing Home Neglect in Atlanta (And How to Spot the Signs)

When families place a loved one in a nursing home, they trust that the facility will provide a clean environment, monitor residents’ health, and respond quickly when medical problems arise. Unfortunately, that does not always happen.

Many infections begin as manageable conditions but become medical emergencies because warning signs are overlooked or treatment is delayed. A resident who develops a simple urinary tract infection, for example, may progress to sepsis if staff fail to recognize symptoms or notify a physician promptly.

While not every infection is caused by negligence, nursing homes have a responsibility to follow accepted infection prevention practices, maintain sanitary conditions, and provide appropriate medical care. When those responsibilities are ignored, residents can suffer serious and often preventable harm.

Families can learn more about facility responsibility, common warning signs, and their legal options on our Atlanta Nursing Home Infection & Sepsis Lawyer page.

The 5 Most Common Preventable Infections Caused by Nursing Home Neglect

Older adults often have weakened immune systems and chronic health conditions that make them more susceptible to infection. That is why nursing homes must take proactive steps to reduce infection risks and respond quickly when symptoms appear.

Here are five of the most common infections associated with nursing home neglect.

1. Urinary Tract Infections and Catheter-Associated UTIs

Urinary tract infections are among the most frequently diagnosed infections in nursing homes. Residents who use urinary catheters or require assistance with toileting are particularly vulnerable.

UTIs may develop when caregivers fail to:

• Change incontinence products promptly
• Practice proper catheter care
• Maintain good personal hygiene
• Assist residents with regular toileting
• Encourage adequate hydration

If left untreated, a UTI can spread beyond the urinary tract and become a life-threatening bloodstream infection.

Families should watch for symptoms such as:

• Sudden confusion or delirium
• Increased agitation
• Fever or chills
• Pain or burning during urination
• Frequent urination
• Foul-smelling or cloudy urine

Because confusion is sometimes mistaken for dementia progression, a UTI may go undiagnosed until the resident becomes seriously ill. Prompt evaluation and treatment are critical.

2. Sepsis and Systemic Bloodstream Infections

Sepsis is one of the most dangerous complications that can occur in a nursing home. It develops when the body’s response to an infection becomes overwhelming, leading to widespread inflammation, organ damage, and potentially septic shock.

In many nursing home cases, sepsis does not begin on its own. It often develops because another infection, such as a UTI, infected pressure ulcer, or pneumonia, was not recognized or treated in time.

Warning signs of sepsis may include:

• Rapid heart rate
• High fever or an abnormally low body temperature
• Extreme confusion or sudden changes in mental status
• Rapid breathing
• Weakness or lethargy
• Low blood pressure

Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires immediate hospital treatment. Every hour that treatment is delayed increases the risk of serious complications and death.

When a nursing home ignores a resident’s worsening condition, delays notifying a physician, or fails to arrange emergency medical care, investigators may examine whether those failures contributed to the resident’s injuries.

3. Infected Bed Sores and Wound Infections

Pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores, can quickly become infected if they are not identified and treated early. Residents with limited mobility are especially vulnerable because prolonged pressure reduces blood flow to the skin, causing tissue damage that can develop into open wounds.

Nursing homes should take proactive steps to prevent pressure ulcers by repositioning residents, performing routine skin assessments, and keeping skin clean and dry. When those basic standards of care are ignored, bacteria can enter the wound and lead to serious infections.

Warning signs of an infected pressure ulcer include:

• Increased redness or swelling around the wound
• Warm skin surrounding the sore
• Pus or foul-smelling drainage
• Fever
• Worsening pain or tenderness

Without prompt treatment, a localized wound infection can spread into the bloodstream and lead to sepsis. To learn more about how these injuries develop and when a nursing home may be responsible, visit our Georgia nursing home bed sores page.

4. Respiratory Infections and Aspiration Pneumonia

Many nursing home residents have difficulty swallowing because of strokes, neurological disorders, or advanced dementia. These residents require careful supervision during meals to help prevent food or liquids from entering the lungs.

Aspiration pneumonia may occur when staff:

• Feed residents too quickly
• Fail to follow swallowing precautions
• Position residents flat during meals
• Ignore recommendations from speech therapists
• Neglect routine oral hygiene

Poor oral care allows bacteria to build up in the mouth, increasing the risk that harmful bacteria will be inhaled into the lungs.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent coughing during or after meals
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Chest congestion
• Difficulty breathing

Because aspiration pneumonia can progress rapidly in older adults, early recognition and treatment are essential.

5. Antibiotic-Resistant Infections, Including MRSA and C. difficile

Nursing homes also face ongoing challenges with antibiotic-resistant infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile).

These infections often spread when basic infection control practices are not followed.

Examples include:

• Staff failing to wash their hands between residents
• Gloves not being changed appropriately
• Shared medical equipment that is not properly disinfected
• Inadequate cleaning of resident rooms and common areas
• Improper use of antibiotics

Older adults with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to these infections, which can be difficult to treat and may require hospitalization.

Preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires consistent attention to hygiene, staff training, and infection control protocols throughout the facility.

Georgia Standards of Care for Infection Control

Nursing homes are expected to do more than simply respond to infections. They must take reasonable steps to prevent them.

Federal regulations require Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes to maintain a comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control Program designed to identify infection risks, prevent transmission, investigate outbreaks, and protect residents from avoidable harm.

These programs should include policies and procedures addressing:

• Hand hygiene
• Environmental cleaning
• Staff education and training
• Isolation precautions when appropriate
• Ongoing infection surveillance
• Investigation and control of outbreaks

Georgia nursing homes are also expected to comply with state licensing requirements and public health standards designed to promote safe, sanitary conditions for residents.

In addition, O.C.G.A. § 31-8-100, the Georgia Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities, recognizes that residents have the right to receive care that protects their health, safety, dignity, and well-being. Providing clean living conditions, appropriate medical supervision, and timely treatment of infections is an important part of meeting that obligation.

When nursing homes fail to follow accepted infection prevention practices and residents suffer preventable illnesses as a result, those failures may support a claim for nursing home negligence.

Attorney Bill Holbert’s Perspective

“Infections in long-term care facilities rarely happen out of nowhere. More often than not, a ‘sudden’ case of sepsis is actually the result of days or weeks of ignored symptoms, understaffed shifts, and unanswered call lights. One of the first things we do is examine the medical records to determine whether warning signs were missed before the infection became life-threatening.”

— Bill Holbert, Georgia Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

What Should You Do If You Suspect Neglect Caused an Infection?

If your loved one develops a serious infection while living in a nursing home, acting quickly can help protect both their health and any potential legal claim.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Care

If the resident shows signs of sepsis, difficulty breathing, a rapidly worsening wound, or another serious infection, request immediate transfer to a hospital for an independent evaluation.

Depending on your location, that may include facilities such as Emory University Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital, or Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where physicians can perform diagnostic testing and begin emergency treatment if necessary.

2. Request Medical Records

Ask the nursing home for copies of records related to the infection, including:

• Physician and nursing notes
• Laboratory results and cultures
• Vital sign records
• Medication administration records
• Wound care documentation, if applicable
• Hospital discharge summaries
• Care plans

These records often help establish when symptoms first appeared and whether staff responded appropriately.

3. Report Your Concerns

If you believe neglect contributed to your loved one’s infection, consider filing a complaint with the Georgia Department of Community Health’s Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, which investigates complaints involving licensed nursing homes throughout the state.

A state investigation may uncover infection control violations, chronic understaffing, or other deficiencies that contributed to the resident’s illness.

4. Speak With an Experienced Georgia Nursing Home Attorney

Serious infections often require a detailed review of medical records, staffing information, and facility documentation.

An attorney can investigate whether the nursing home:

• Failed to recognize early warning signs
• Delayed notifying a physician
• Ignored changes in the resident’s condition
• Failed to follow infection control protocols
• Maintained adequate staffing levels
• Preserved accurate medical records

In some cases, reviewing chart timestamps and electronic health record audit trails can help establish when symptoms were documented and whether records were updated after a resident’s condition worsened.

Frequently Asked Questions