How Untreated Infections Can be Deadly in Jail
Cuts, scrapes and wounds can easily occur in jail. What is harder though, is identifying, stopping and treating infections before they become deadly.
Skin and Wound Infections
There are no shortage of diseases that can be spread while incarcerated, with plenty of different types of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) that can develop.
Some of the riskier skin infectious include MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) infections. These infections can start out as small red bumps, and turn into deep abscesses, or cause systemwide infections. These can range from the more benign cellulitis to the emergency of necrotizing fasciitis. What they all have in common though, is that without proper treatment, many can cause deadly consequences.
Who is at risk?
Tight quarters, communal living, a lack of hand hygiene, skin damage or open wounds can all lead to infections. But a persons individual health, their environment and behaviors also plays a part.
Health History: Recent or reoccurring infections, or a weakened immune system can all make it easier to develop a skin or soft tissue infection. Those infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) are one such population that is at an increased risk. Having certain diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or end-stage liver disease can also mean someone is at an increased risk for infections.
Environment: Recent or current incarceration also strongly predict skin infections. Some of this is due to many people entering the jail system already carrying diseases like staph or MRSA naturally. Once incarcerated though, the risk of direct contact, wounds and poor hygiene increases the risk of these diseases being transmitted to others.
Behaviors: Some of the natural behaviors and routines of living in jail can also increase the risk of infection. Behaviors such as sharing soap with other inmates, infrequent showering, continued wear of the same garments or soiled clothing can increase risk. Those who develop a skin or soft tissue infection in jail are 3 times as likely to have a history of injected drug use.
Complications
Not every cut or scrape will be serious or require extensive care, but it is still important to know the warning signs and intervene early.
A systemwide infection is the most tell-tale sign of impending trouble, and patients often present with fever, a high heart rate and low blood pressure. Infections that spread to other tissues or to deeper layers of tissue (known as gangrene) can also cause permanent damage. Infections can spread to the blood or bones, requiring amputation in some cases, and leading to shock, sepsis or death in others.
Necrotizing fasciitis is another skin and tissue infection commonly know as the “flesh-eating disease”, and is a true surgical emergency. Caused by bacteria such as Group A Streptococcus (GAS), this skin and soft tissue infection can arise from needle puncture wounds, cuts or burns, and rapidly destroy tissues until controlled.
While incarcerated, wound care is challenging, but getting prompt treatment and promoting hygienic conditions in jail is also a challenge.
Inmates face issues with wounds that are “left to fester“, delays in receiving care that lead to a worsening condition, a lack of training in wound care by the medical staff to missed bandage changes or even death. Some families also say that their loved ones died from an infection like MRSA, yet their deaths were falsely classified as being due to natural causes.
If a loved one died from infection while in jail, feel free to reach out to one of our attorneys to see if we can help.
Allison Kunerth
Allison Kunerth