The study examined more than 62 million death certificates from across the United States, dated from 1979 to 2006. Of those, 244,388 were caused by medication errors in a hospital. The statistical likelihood of a fatal medication error was virtually equal for all months except for the month of July at teaching hospitals. In counties with a high number of teaching hospitals, the study found that fatal medication errors spiked by 10 percent in July, while it stayed the same in areas without teaching hospitals. The study findings are reported in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Dr. Joanne Conroy, chief health care officer for the Association of Medical Colleges, agreed that July is a hectic month but adds that there are a lot of new caregivers in July. She states that July is "probably a time where there are a lot of health professionals assuming new responsibilities. Everybody moves up."

Dr. David Orentlicher, a medical doctor and professor of law at Indiana University, told ABC that there are many aspects of starting a new residency that might put people at risk for medical errors, including residents' inexperience, sleep deprivation and need to learn a new hospital system. He suggests the use of computer software to assist in checking for prescription or dosing errors.

Ramanan Laxminarayan, of the study, reported that it is the first to link about half of all infection deaths directly to infections acquired in the course of care in hospitals. As opposed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, the study calculates deaths caused by, not merely associated with, hospital-acquired infections. Additionally, the CDC figures are based on voluntary hospital reporting, while the new study results are based on data regarding patient diagnoses, hospital treatment and pre-admission exposure to infections. The researchers analyzed 69 million discharge records from hospitals in 40 states between 1998 and 2006.

The study estimates that hospital-acquired sepsis and pneumonia added $8.1 billion to health care costs in 2006 alone. Medicare and many state Medicaid programs have announced decisions to reduce or eliminate payment for re-hospitalization or care made necessary by preventable complications such as infections. However, even this financial incentive may be insufficient to spur better infection control for hospitals as administrators weigh the immediate costs of implementing infection prevention measures. Private insurers may also increasingly amend their policies to exclude coverage for avoidable events.

Proactive patients may want to inquire about hospital checklists, policies and statistics related to hospital-acquired infections.

MRSA Types

There are two types of MRSA, one acquired in medical institutions (called hospital-associated, or HA-MRSA) and another acquired in the outside world (called community-associated, or CA-MRSA). Both types are resistant to antibiotics and are therefore more dangerous than other staph infections.

In hospital-associated MRSA infections, the bacteria are spread during surgery and other medical testing and treatment procedures. Organ and bone transplants, for example, often result in MRSA. Those with weakened immune systems, including children and the elderly, are particularly vulnerable.

MRSA can also be spread in the community through skin contact, which places kids and adults who play team sports at increased risk of infection. The same is true for those who live in crowded residences with unsanitary conditions.

How MRSA Spreads

The spread of MRSA can happen quickly and occurs through skin contact, medical tubing, surgical procedures and a variety of other means. In community-associated MRSA, the bacteria are often spread when an infected person comes into contact with someone else, particularly at the site of the infection.

The initial stages of MRSA often resemble pimples or other skin abrasions, so it is not always diagnosed quickly. This leads to more exposure and allows the infection to advance to its more advanced stages.

Liability for MRSA

In some cases of MRSA infection, liability may be an issue. For example, if a physician uses improperly sterilized equipment or fails to follow proper procedures while performing surgery or inserting medical tubing, he or she may be legally liable for the patient's injuries.

If you believe that you or a loved one has contracted MRSA because of a physician's negligence, it is important to seek legal counsel immediately. An attorney can advise you of your options and investigate your claims to find out if a medical malpractice or wrongful death lawsuit is warranted.