CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The ongoing MRSA epidemic is a global public health crisis. MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus) - the antibiotic resistant form of Staph - is rampant in U.S. healthcare facilities and in the community. In Illinois alone there were 17,568 MRSA hospital-acquired infections according to 2015 data by Illinois Dept. of Public Health. "The true magnitude of the MRSA epidemic globally is unknown and it should be a top political priority," states Jeanine Thomas, founder of MRSA Survivors Network.
9th Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff Event & Global C. difficile Summit
'The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action' is the 2017 global theme. The annual awareness event will be held September 30, 2017 at the Community House in Hinsdale, Illinois from 10:30am – 12:30pm. Mr. Rob Stafford of NBC5 Chicago will be emceeing and leading experts will present with survivors sharing their personal stories. The event is uplifting and informative with a Q & A session for the audience. Bring the entire family - admission and parking are free.
Award Ceremony: Lynn and Nancy Utesch of Kewaunee CARES receives the 'Persons of the Year Award" and Mr. Rob Stafford is honored with 'The Barry M. Farr Humanitarian Award'.
In Memoriam: Dr. Barry M. Farr will be honored 'In Memoriam' for his pioneer work in active detection and isolation (ADI) for MRSA and his patient safety advocacy.
World MRSA Day is October 2 and World MRSA Awareness Month is October
Downloadable posters are at MRSA Survivors Network and their alliance partner MRSA Action UK will be promoting World MRSA Day/Month in the U.K.
Sponsors: NBC5 Chicago, Roche, Melinta, Cepheid, Xenex and Telligen
MRSA Screening Saves Lives
Northern European countries have controlled MRSA to low numbers by screening patients for decades, yet surprisingly still the CDC does not recommend routine screening when there are over 300 evidence-based studies supporting screening. The Veterans Health Administration has been screening their patients for MRSA since 2007 in all 150 facilities and reduced infections by over 80%. A comprehensive, bundled approach to controlling MRSA must be implemented; active detection and isolation, strict adherence to hand hygiene, thorough decontaminating of the environment and good antibiotic stewardship.
MRSA healthcare-acquired infections are vastly under-reported and community-acquired MRSA infections are not reported in the U.S. MRSA infections have cost untold deaths (only 3 states mandate that MRSA be named on death certificates), needless pain, suffering and billions of dollars annually. Many MRSA patients are left permanently disabled from this medical error because of contaminated healthcare facilities.
MRSA Survivors Network was the first patient advocacy organization in the U.S. to raise the alarm concerning MRSA and healthcare-acquired infections. They celebrate their 15th Year Anniversary of helping MRSA patients, families and saving lives.
For information on becoming a Corporate Sponsor, donate, or volunteer contact us at: 630 325-4354, www.MRSAsurvivors.org , [email protected] , Twitter.com/MRSAsurvivors and at Facebook.com/MRSASurvivorsNetwork.
Media Contact:
Jeanine Thomas
[email protected]
630 325-4354
SOURCE MRSA Survivors Network
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