MRSA Survivors Unite for World MRSA Day

CHICAGO, Sept. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MRSA Survivors unite on September 28, 2013 for the 5^th Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff event and Global C. diff Summit. The event will educate the public on how to help prevent MRSA and C. diff infections in healthcare facilities and in the community. The annual event is organized by MRSA Survivors Network, a Chicago-based nonprofit and global leader that raises awareness and educates the public concerning the MRSA epidemic and HAI's.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091005/MRSALOGO)

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcement said that MRSA infection rates in the US dropped 30% from 2005 – 2011 with 111,300 cases in 2005 and 80,500 in 2011.

Jeanine Thomas, founder of MRSA Survivors Network calls the CDC report "grossly inaccurate". In Illinois alone according to Illinois Dept. of Public Health in 2011 there were 17,209 MRSA infections in Illinois hospitals and this is only one state. This was up from 2008 which had 10,103 MRSA infections in Illinois hospitals.  

"Hospitals in the U.S. continue to under report MRSA infections and the CDC's 80,500 statistic is more close to the MRSA death rate in the U.S.", states Jeanine Thomas.

MRSA Survivors Network calls for all healthcare facilities in the Unites States to be more aggressive in their approach and screen more high-risk patients upon admission and implement 'search and destroy' in each facility to further reduce MRSA infections.

MRSA screening is only one component to reducing MRSA infections. A comprehensive approach using (ADI) – active detection and isolation, decolonizing, strict adherence to hand hygiene, decontamination of frequently touched surfaces and prudent use of antibiotics are all imperative to reduce infections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) must set up a worldwide MRSA surveillance and reporting system. Such a system would facilitate the collection of data on MRSA infections and colonization with a public release of such data on a designated website. This would illustrate the true magnitude of the MRSA epidemic worldwide.

Fifth Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff Event & Global C. diff Summit

The Fifth Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff Event and the Global C. diff Summit will be held Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Hinsdale Community House in Hinsdale, IL from 1:00 – 3:00pm and open to the public – free admission and parking. The 2013 global theme is 'The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action'.

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Unite will give a special message to attendees via video.

Keynote Speaker is Dr. William R. Jarvis of Jason & Jarvis Associates LLC, formerly with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a leading MRSA expert and infectious disease specialist. Dr. Michael Pulia from the University of Wisconsin/Madison School of Medicine and Public Health will speak on community-acquired MRSA and C. diff. Mr. Rob Stafford, evening news anchor for NBC5 Chicago is the emcee and Reverend Henry Soles, senior chaplain of the Chicago Bulls basketball team will officiate during the Remembrance Ceremony. MRSA survivors and their families will share their personal stories to help others understand the impact of preventable MRSA infections have on them and their families. The event will commence with a balloon release for attendees.

Sponsors: Pfizer and media sponsor NBC5 Chicago.

Award Ceremony

2013 award recipients are: Dr. Lance R. Peterson of NorthShore University HealthSystem – 'Person of the Year' award; NorthShore University HealthSystem – 'Hospital Leader' award; Mr. Rob Stafford of NBC5 Chicago – 'Man of the Year' award and Bethany Burke of Austin, Texas - 'MRSA Youth Champion' award.

Bethany Burke, a student at Hyde Park High School in Austin, Texas and a survivor of community-acquired MRSA conducted a fundraising campaign for MRSA and helped to raise awareness by making her own impressive video. She is a shining example of what one young person can do in their community and we commend her commitment to the MRSA cause. Visit her online campaign at- http://www.crowdrise.com/BethanyvsMRSA/fundraiser/bethanyburke

Other Events

The First Annual RRA Raise MRSA Awareness 5k Walk was held September 14, 2013 in Springfield, PA. MRSA Action UK will be participating in programs in the U.K. and the Indonesian-based NGO Yayasan Orang tua Peduli (YOP) is also organizing two events in October.

Downloadable posters, brochures and banners are available at www.WorldMRSAday.org  and a public service announcement (PSA) by True Productions will air on NBC Chicago stations and can also be viewed on MRSA Survivors Network YouTube Channel and websites.

Founder Jeanine Thomas is a survivor of MRSA sepsis and complicating C. diff and became critically ill after ankle surgery. She is the national spokesperson for MRSA and a conference speaker.

For information on how you can become a volunteer, donate (sponsorships and donations are tax deductible), and get involved to make a difference, contact us at: 630 325-4354, www.MRSAsurvivors.org , [email protected] ,  Twitter.com/MRSAsurvivors and at Facebook.com/MRSASurvivorsNetwork.

SOURCE MRSA Survivors Network