Can I Make a Claim if a Family Member Died from Sepsis After Using DermaRite?

When a loved one enters a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation center, families trust that every product used — from wound cleansers to skin lotions — is safe and sterile. Sadly, recent FDA warnings and recalls of DermaRite soaps and skin care products have revealed contamination with Burkholderia cepacia (Bcc), a dangerous bacterium capable of causing fatal bloodstream infections and sepsis, especially in elderly or medically fragile patients.

If your family member died from sepsis after being exposed to DermaRite products, you may be wondering whether you can pursue a legal claim. The answer could be yes — depending on the circumstances, families may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit against DermaRite and other responsible parties.

Below, the Law Offices of Jason Turchin explains what this recall means, who may be eligible to file a claim, and what steps you can take to protect your family’s rights.

Understanding the DermaRite Recall

DermaRite Industries LLC, a company that manufactures health and hygiene products used widely in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health care, voluntarily recalled dozens of products after discovering contamination with Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) bacteria.

Key facts:

• Hazard: B. cepacia contamination can cause severe infections, pneumonia, or sepsis.
• At-risk users: Elderly, immunocompromised, diabetic, and post-surgical patients.
• Distribution: Nationwide — many affected facilities are located in Florida and other southeastern states.
• Products: Cleansing foams, perineal washes, lotions, and soaps used for wound or daily hygiene care.

The FDA confirmed that these products pose a serious health threat, especially when used on open skin or wounds, because bacteria can enter directly into the bloodstream.

What Is Burkholderia cepacia and How Does It Cause Sepsis?

Burkholderia cepacia is a group of bacteria that can survive in moisture-rich environments such as soaps, lotions, and medical fluids. In healthy individuals, it may not cause illness, but in those with compromised immune systems, it can lead to life-threatening infections.

When introduced through skin contact or wound care, it may cause:

• Pneumonia
• Bloodstream infection (bacteremia)
• Sepsis, a widespread inflammatory response that can cause organ failure and death

In long-term care settings where DermaRite products are commonly used, outbreaks can spread quickly between residents.

Can I Make a Legal Claim if My Family Member Died from Sepsis Linked to DermaRite?

Yes — if evidence suggests that a contaminated DermaRite product contributed to or caused the infection that led to your loved one’s death, your family may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Potential grounds for a claim may include:

• Product contamination – proving that the DermaRite product contained Burkholderia cepacia or was part of the FDA recall.
• Failure to warn – showing the manufacturer failed to issue timely or adequate warnings.
• Negligence in distribution – demonstrating that contaminated products were sold or used despite safety concerns.
• Facility negligence – holding hospitals or nursing homes accountable if they continued using recalled products.

A wrongful death claim seeks to hold the responsible parties legally and financially accountable for the loss caused by a defective or contaminated product.

Who Can File a DermaRite Wrongful Death Claim?

In most states, including Florida, a personal representative of the deceased person’s estate must file the claim on behalf of surviving family members. Those family members may include:

• A spouse
• Children
• Parents
• Other relatives or dependents who suffered emotional or financial loss

Your attorney can help you open or identify the estate and determine who is eligible to bring the claim.

What Damages Can Families Recover?

Compensation in a DermaRite sepsis death lawsuit may include both economic and non-economic damages, such as:

• Medical expenses prior to death (hospitalization, ICU, antibiotics)
• Funeral and burial costs
• Pain and suffering of the deceased prior to death
• Loss of companionship, care, and guidance
• Emotional anguish and grief
• Loss of financial support or benefits

While no amount of money can bring a loved one back, these claims can help families find justice and hold negligent companies accountable for preventable harm.

How to Prove a DermaRite Sepsis Claim

To succeed in a wrongful death lawsuit, your legal team may want to show:

1. A DermaRite product was used on or by the victim;
2. That product was contaminated or part of the recall;
3. The contamination caused or significantly contributed to the infection; and
4. The infection led to sepsis and death.

Evidence may include:

• Medical and hospital records
• Death certificates referencing “sepsis,” “infection,” or “B. cepacia”
• Nursing home or facility product logs
• Laboratory cultures matching the recalled bacteria
• Witness statements or caregiver notes
• Lot numbers or packaging from DermaRite products used

An experienced product liability attorney can subpoena these records and work with microbiology experts to establish causation.

What If the Hospital or Nursing Home Used the Product?

Even if the contaminated DermaRite product was supplied by a healthcare provider, the manufacturer can still be held liable for producing and distributing unsafe products.

In some cases, the facility may share responsibility if it:

• Continued using recalled products after being notified;
• Failed to monitor infection control;
• Ignored recall notices or safety alerts;
• Used contaminated products on multiple patients.

These dual claims — against the manufacturer and the facility — can maximize recovery for the family.

Common Signs That a DermaRite Product May Have Caused Sepsis

If your loved one’s infection seemed sudden, severe, or unusual, the following red flags may suggest exposure to a contaminated product:

• Rapid onset of sepsis or bacteremia without an obvious source
• Infections developing after routine skin cleansing or wound care
• Use of DermaRite soaps, foams, or lotions during care
• Clusters of infections in the same facility
• Burkholderia cepacia or Bcc noted in hospital cultures or death records

If you’ve seen these signs, contact a DermaRite Sepsis Death Lawyer right away for an investigation.

Steps to Take After a Sepsis-Related Death

1. Request all medical and facility records. Include infection control reports, product logs, and lab results.
2. Obtain the death certificate. Look for references to “infection,” “bacteremia,” or “sepsis.”
3. Preserve evidence. If you still have any DermaRite products at home, do not discard them.
4. Note all facilities involved. Nursing homes, hospitals, or home health agencies may each play a role.
5. Speak with a product liability lawyer to begin an investigation before evidence is lost.

How the Law Offices of Jason Turchin Can Help

Our firm can represent families nationwide in medical product contamination and wrongful death cases. Based in Florida, we understand how devastating these infections are — especially when they could have been prevented with proper safety testing.

When you hire us, we can:

• Identify whether your loved one’s infection was linked to a recalled DermaRite product;
• Gather medical, laboratory, and facility evidence;
• Retain experts in infectious disease and epidemiology;
• File a wrongful death claim on your family’s behalf;
• Handle all communication with insurers and defense attorneys; and
• Seek full compensation for your family’s loss.

You pay no attorney’s fees or costs unless we recover money for your case.

Frequently Asked Questions About DermaRite Sepsis Death Claims

1. What if I don’t know exactly which product was used?

We can investigate through medical records and facility supply lists to confirm whether a recalled DermaRite product was used.

2. Can I still bring a case if my loved one had other health conditions?

Yes. Even if your loved one was medically fragile, companies can still be held liable if a contaminated product caused or worsened the infection.

3. What is the time limit to file a claim?

In most states, including Florida, families generally have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

4. Do I have to pay upfront?

No. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis — no fees or costs unless we recover compensation for you.

5. Can multiple families file together?

If multiple deaths stem from the same contaminated products, cases may be consolidated or form part of a mass tort, but each family’s recovery is typically individualized.

6. What kind of testing can prove contamination?

Hospital or laboratory records showing Burkholderia cepacia infection can be key. We can also work with experts to trace the bacteria to the recalled product.

7. Will DermaRite pay for funeral expenses?

That may be part of your damages in a successful wrongful death claim.

8. What if the facility denies using DermaRite?

We can subpoena purchasing records or invoices showing the products used during your loved one’s care.

9. How long do these cases take?

Many contamination claims resolve within 12–24 months, though complex wrongful death cases can take longer depending on investigation and litigation.

10. How do I start the process?

Call (800) 337-7755 or visit VictimAid.com to schedule your free consultation.

Contact a DermaRite Sepsis Death Lawyer Today

If your family member died from sepsis after using DermaRite soaps, lotions, or cleansing products, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. Our team can help you uncover the truth and fight for justice.

Call the Law Offices of Jason Turchin at (800) 337-7755 or visit VictimAid.com for a free case review today. We’re here to help your family find answers — and accountability.