The MRSA Epidemic - Int'l MRSA Testing Week

CHICAGO, March 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MRSA is fueling the global antibiotic-resistant public health crisis due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in humans and in animals. Methicillin – resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to most antibiotics due to overuse.

"There is a serious lack of transparency in public reporting of MRSA infections, colonization and contamination rates along with lack of positive action," states Jeanine Thomas, founder of the Chicago-based nonprofit MRSA Survivors Network.  The approach of – if we don't test for it, then we don't have it has prevailed for far too long. MRSA has been a secret and silent killer for decades.

"International MRSA Testing Week, April 1-7th" is a global campaign and its slogan "Prevention Saves Lives"  draws critical attention for the need of healthcare facilities worldwide to adapt a comprehensive approach to stop MRSA and healthcare-acquired infections (HAI's):

• Screen high risk patients for MRSA upon admission with continued surveillance and testing - active detection and isolation (ADI).
• Strict adherence to hand hygiene with monitoring and continual training.
• Decontamination of frequently touched surfaces and thorough cleaning of equipment, environment, etc.
• Strong antimicrobial stewardship program with prudent use of antibiotics.

The VA Health Systems have been screening their patients for MRSA since 2007 in all of their 150 facilities and have reduced MRSA infection rates by 66%. Why does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) not routinely recommend this when the VA has been so successful?

Sponsors: Roche, Xenex

State and county health departments and municipalities must test water, treatment plants and soil for MRSA along with other pathogens and trace antibiotics. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's – factory farms) must be held accountable for polluting water, soil and air.

"The continued overuse of antibiotics in livestock agriculture has the resulting effect of potentially increasing cases of MRSA and affecting the communities where we live.  Food, water and soil samples have shown that antibiotics are persistent in our environment and have the great potential to create widespread antibiotic resistance, which threatens us all," states Lynn Utesch, founder of Kewaunee CARES and an organic farmer from Wisconsin.

It is imperative that World Health Organization (WHO) 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 and public health crisis worldwide and also facilitate the implementation of active detection and isolation (ADI).

World MRSA Day, October 2 and World MRSA Awareness Month, October

The 8^th Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff Event and Global C. difficile Summit will be held Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the Community House in Hinsdale, IL. Leading MRSA experts will be speaking and survivors sharing their story with a town hall meeting format for the attendees to ask questions. Mr. Rob Stafford, evening news anchor for NBC5 Chicago is the emcee.

Sponsor: Roche

Other events and programs will be held in other U.S. cities, the U.K. and other countries throughout the month of October.

Downloadable posters, brochures and banners will be available at www.WorldMRSAday.org and our public service announcements are on our YouTube channel.

"So many people have died from this preventable disease or have become permanently disabled, bankrupt and even homeless - entire families have been shattered," states Jeanine Thomas. We need to work together to stop this public health disaster.

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

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SOURCE MRSA Survivors Network

Related Links

http://www.mrsasurvivors.org