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Michigan’s Premier Birth Injury Attorneys
Newborn infections are some of the most serious medical emergencies a baby can experience. When properly identified and treated, many neonatal infections can be managed successfully. But when warning signs are missed, testing is delayed, or treatment is inadequate, infections can lead to permanent brain damage, organ failure, or death.
Newborn infections can happen during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or after birth. Infections can originate from different sources, from untreated maternal conditions or from hospital-acquired exposure in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Regardless of the source, medical providers have a duty to act quickly when signs of infection appear. When that duty is breached, the consequences can be devastating.
At Fieger Law, our newborn infection injury lawyers represent families across Michigan whose children have suffered due to medical negligence. If a hospital, obstetrician, nurse, or neonatal care provider failed to recognize or treat an infection in time, your family may have legal options.
Contact us now for a free case review.
What Is a Newborn Infection?
A newborn infection, also called a neonatal infection, occurs when a baby develops a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or within the first weeks of life. Because newborns have immature immune systems, even infections that might be manageable in older children or adults can become life-threatening in a matter of hours.
Neonatal infections are categorized depending on when the infection develops:
- Early-onset infections: Appear within the first three days after birth, often linked to bacteria transmitted during delivery
- Late-onset infections: Develop after the first three days of life; causes include hospital exposure, invasive procedures, or prolonged NICU stays
Hospitals are expected to follow strict screening and infection-control protocols during pregnancy and delivery. That includes testing mothers for infections, monitoring for signs of maternal fever, and promptly evaluating newborns who show symptoms of infection.
Early recognition and rapid intervention are critical because infections can worsen quickly. Sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and neurological damage are all serious birth injuries that can be caused by an infection.
Common Types of Newborn Infections
Newborn infections can originate from several different sources. Some are transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy or delivery, while others develop after birth from exposure to the hospital environment.
These are some of the most serious newborn infections:
Group B Streptococcus
GBS is a leading cause of early-onset neonatal infections. Pregnant women are routinely screened for GBS between 35 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. If the test is positive, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends antibiotics administered during labor to reduce the risk of transmission from mother to baby.
Sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection that can progress quickly in newborns. Symptoms include lethargy, difficulty feeding, temperature instability, breathing problems, or abnormal heart rate. If providers fail to recognize these signs or delay blood cultures and antibiotic treatment, sepsis can lead to organ failure, brain injury, or death.
Meningitis
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Even with treatment, meningitis can cause permanent neurological damage, hearing loss, developmental delays, or cerebral palsy. Lumbar puncture testing and immediate antibiotic therapy are needed to treat meningitis.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia can develop when bacteria is inhaled during delivery or acquired after birth. Respiratory distress in a newborn should be treated as a medical emergency. Delayed diagnosis can lead to oxygen deprivation and long-term complications.
Hospital-Acquired (Nosocomial) Infections
Premature infants in NICUs are vulnerable to infections associated with IV lines, ventilators, and invasive monitoring devices. Hospitals are required to follow infection control standards to prevent complications. When those standards aren’t followed, newborns could be harmed.
The Lasting Impact of Newborn Infections
Severe infections can deprive a baby’s brain of oxygen and lead to permanent injury. Some of those conditions include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental delays
- Seizure disorders
- Hearing or vision loss
- Intellectual disabilities
- Chronic respiratory problems
- Organ damage
Families could suddenly find themselves navigating specialists, therapists, and long-term care planning that needs to account for years of medical appointments, rehabilitation, and educational support.
The emotional toll is just as significant. Parents can struggle with guilt, anger, and unanswered questions about whether the outcome could have been avoided.
How Medical Negligence Leads to Newborn Infection Injuries
Medical professionals are expected to recognize risk factors, conduct appropriate testing, monitor both mother and baby, and start treatment without delay when warning signs appear.
In cases of newborn infection, medical professionals and facilities can be held negligent for the following:
- Failure to screen the mother for conditions like GBS
- Failure to administer antibiotics during labor when necessary
- Ignoring signs of maternal infection or fever
- Delaying diagnostic testing for a newborn showing signs of distress
- Failing to begin antibiotics while waiting for culture results
- Inadequate infection control procedures in a hospital or NICU
When failure in care leads to injury, families may have grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim. The team at Fieger Law can listen to your story, assess the situation, and chart a path forward.
Contact us today for a free case review.
Medical and Family Support Resources in Detroit
Families caring for a child affected by a newborn infection need long-term medical and developmental support. In the Detroit area, specialized pediatric care is available at:
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan
- Henry Ford St. John Children’s Hospital
- University of Michigan Health
Early intervention programs provide therapy and developmental services for infants and toddlers with delays. Families may qualify for services through Early On Michigan, the state’s early intervention system for children under age three.
Michigan’s Notice of Intent Requirement in Medical Malpractice Cases
Under Michigan law, medical malpractice claims must comply with specific procedural requirements.
A plaintiff is required to serve a written Notice of Intent to the healthcare provider at least 182 days before filing suit. The Notice of Intent must outline:
- The factual basis for the claim
- The applicable standard of care
- How that standard was breached
- The actions that should have been taken
- How the breach caused the injury
This requirement is designed to give healthcare providers an opportunity to evaluate the claim before formal litigation begins. However, it also creates strict timing rules.
Because the state has statute of limitations deadlines for medical malpractice cases, families should seek legal guidance from an experienced Michigan attorney as soon as possible.
Compensation in Newborn Infection Injury Cases
When an infection causes a baby permanent harm, the financial burden on families can be overwhelming. Medical bills alone can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a child’s lifetime. A successful medical malpractice claim is designed to secure the resources a child will need not just now, but decades into the future.
In Michigan newborn infection cases, compensation may include damages for:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Ongoing therapy (physical, occupational, speech)
- Specialized neurological care
- Assistive devices and adaptive equipment
- Home modifications
- Special education support
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
In catastrophic cases involving brain injury, cerebral palsy, or seizure disorders, experts may be consulted to calculate lifetime care needs.
Michigan law imposes caps on certain non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, depending on the severity of the injury. Determining how those caps apply requires careful legal analysis.
Why Families Across Michigan Turn to Fieger Law
Birth injury cases involving newborn infections demand rigorous investigation, medical expertise, and courtroom strength against well-defended hospital systems.
For over 70 years, Fieger Law has represented families across Michigan in high-stakes medical malpractice and birth injury cases. Our firm has the resources to thoroughly investigate what happened, consult leading medical experts, and hold negligent providers accountable.
If your child suffered serious complications from a newborn infection in Detroit or anywhere in Michigan, you may have legal options. You deserve answers. And you deserve accountability.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
