Sepsis Deaths in Nursing Homes: A Preventable Crisis

An in-depth investigation by Kaiser Health News and the Chicago Tribune reveals that preventable sepsis infections are rampant in U.S. nursing homes, contributing to at least 25,000 deaths annually and costing Medicare over $2 billion each year. The report highlights the case of Willie Jackson, an 85-year-old veteran who developed severe bedsores while in a Chicago-area nursing home, leading to sepsis and ultimately his death. His daughter has filed a lawsuit for negligence, one of thousands filed across the U.S. over similar preventable conditions.

Sepsis, often caused by untreated infections such as bedsores or urinary tract infections, is a common reason for hospitalizing nursing home residents and often leads to death. Despite being largely preventable through basic care measures like turning patients regularly, data show persistent failure in infection control. In Illinois, 94% of nursing homes have had at least one citation for infection risks since 2015.

Low staffing levels are cited as a primary contributor, with many homes failing to meet even the state’s minimal requirements. The problem is exacerbated by low Medicaid reimbursement rates, which hinder facilities' ability to hire adequate staff.

Lawsuits and state inspections frequently expose neglect, while poor infection management leads to avoidable hospital transfers that are emotionally and physically devastating for elderly patients. While regulators acknowledge the crisis, efforts to reduce hospitalizations and improve care have shown little progress. Advocates call for better staffing, stricter accountability, and reforms to ensure nursing homes meet basic care standards and prevent unnecessary suffering and death.

MedPage Today. (2018, September 5). Avoidable sepsis up in nursing homes. Retrieved from https://www.medpagetoday.com/geriatrics/generalgeriatrics/75023