Woman Sues Hospital After Contracting Infection

By Brittany Golledge

Published on September 22, 2005

The plaintiff, Michelle Lynn Smith, was admitted to the University of Maryland hospital for the treatment of lung disease in 2002. While in the intensive care unit, Smith speculates that she contracted the Acinetobacter infection from another patient who was being treated at the same time. Smith was later discharged by the hospital, but her health took a turn for the worse and she was quickly transported back to the intensive care unit. She eventually fell into a coma that would last for three months.

Smith remained in the intensive care unit for five days before hospital officials isolated her to contain her infection. She alleges that hospital officials failed to diagnose her infection in a timely manner and also failed to prevent 13 other patients from being exposed to the Acinetobacter infection -- a bacterium found almost exclusively in hospital settings.

The Baltimore City health Commissioner has recognized that the hospital did report an outbreak in February of 2003; currently, the Health Department is considering whether to launch an investigation into Smith's allegations.

The University of Maryland Medical Center is defending their actions during the outbreak. Hospital officials maintain that the center takes infection control seriously and has been a leader in the development of measures to contain bacterial infections.

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