courtesy of http://trouble.philadelphiaweekly.com/archives/2007/10/i_just_have_to.html

A recently emerging issue in both medicine and the law is MRSA.  MRSA can have devastating long-term social, emotional and financial effects.  MRSA has been known to cause facial and body scarring, loss of limbs and even death as a result of the disease.  An example of this can be seen on NBC10 at this link: http://video.nbc10.com/player/?id=175779.  At Schrom & Shaffer P.C., we will work diligently to protect the rights of individuals who have been infected with MRSA due to negligence and maintenance of unhygienic living conditions in communal environments, including, but not limited to healthcare and correctional facilities.

"MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin...[While] 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph at any given time, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA." (with some paraphrasing)

"Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and health care facilities, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers, who have weakened immune systems. These health care-associated staph infections include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia...Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and health care facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently hospitalized or had a medical procedure are know as CA-MRSA infections...Places where CA-MRSA most common[ly] occur among [correctional facility inmates, day care attendees, competitive sports participants and military recruits.] (With additions and paraphrasing) 

Schrom & Shaffer are litigating and MRSA cases. Below is an example of the a recent case. 
 
(Carol Snyder v. SCI Graterford )
Ms. Carol Snyder is a corrections officer at SCI-Graterford Prison in Montgomery County.  During her time at the prison Ms. Snyder had close contact with the inmates at Graterford Prison.  She reported a history of MRSA folliculitis among the inmates of the prison.  She had onset of MRSA on February 15th, 2004.  Her last exposure was on December 30th, 2006.  She believes that the infection is a result of her proximity and contact with the inmates.  In addition, she has no history of contacts with people with folliculitis outside of her workplace.

As a result of the infection she contracted at the prison, Ms. Snyder suffered from facial scarring and other skin related damage.  She suffered negative social, emotional and financial results due to injury.  Ms. Snyder was out of work on full disability for two time periods: from 07/07/05-04/14/06 and 2/20/07-present.   She lost wages during this period.  Furthermore, due to her injuries, Ms. Snyder may require plastic surgery to repair damage to her face and body. 

At this moment her claim is still being processed.

If you have been the victim of MRSA to the negligence of others, or have any questions regarding a personal injury claim, please contact us at the Law Offices of Schrom & Shaffer.