World MRSA Day Event to Broadcast Live - October 1, 2010

CHICAGO, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MRSA Survivors Network announces that the second annual World MRSA Day kickoff event at Loyola University Chicago on October 1, 2010 will be broadcasting live by webstream on 3M's website and at www.worldmrsaday.org  starting at 10:00am (CST).

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Jeanine Thomas, founder of World MRSA Day states, "We are very excited that the World MRSA Day kickoff event will be seen by so many around the world making it a truly live global event to raise awareness to the ongoing MRSA epidemic – we hope this is the tipping point. The response and support this year has been amazing."

The 2010 global theme is 'The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action'. MRSA survivors and families urgently plead for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare MRSA an ongoing epidemic and provide much needed MRSA  prevention, educational and awareness programs to the public and healthcare industry.

Recent CDC publication shows that invasive MRSA (mostly bloodstream infections, which are less than 10% of all MRSA infections) rates may be decreasing for the first time in decades. Although the study did not collect data to determine the factors responsible for the decrease, most likely this is the result of private activists, legislation passed in 15 states requiring MRSA reporting or prevention measures, and the increasing use of evidence-based proven ADI (active detection and isolation). The time for CDC to mandate use of ADI to prevent and control MRSA and save lives is now.

"A comprehensive and bundled approach is needed to control MRSA with ADI, decolonization of MRSA carriers, strict adherence to hand hygiene, decontamination of surfaces with prudent use of antibiotics," says Jeanine Thomas.

The October 1, 2010 World MRSA Day   kickoff event will unite together the community, MRSA survivors and families, the healthcare community, organizations, legislators and activists to raise awareness. The event is open to the public with donations being accepted at the door. Other events will be held October 2, 2010 and during October, World MRSA Awareness Month in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.

2010 official sponsors are: StaphAseptic, 3m, Roche, Kimberly-Clark, Ever-Safe, Loyola University Chicago, Loyola Medical Center and media sponsor NBC5 Chicago.

The live broadcast on October 1, 2010 will begin with the Press Conference at 10:00am (CST) and followed immediately by the Remembrance Ceremony with Reverend Henry Soles, the senior chaplain for the Chicago Bulls basketball team officiating to honor all of the MRSA victims around the world who have lost their life to this preventable disease. A moment of silence will be observed around the world for all the MRSA victims.

Rob Stafford, anchor for the NBC5 Chicago nightly news is this years' emcee and the main event will kick-off with the StaphAseptic-sponsored World MRSA Day Parade, the first-of-its-kind virtual parade created to march out the full story about the worldwide MRSA epidemic.

Dr. William R. Jarvis, president of Jason and Jarvis Associates LLC and world-renowned MRSA and infectious disease expert is the keynote speaker and also the recipient of the first 'Barry M. Farr Lifetime Achievement Award' from MRSA Survivors Network. Dr. Barry M. Farr was one of the first pioneers in the U.S. to screen for MRSA at UVA and control MRSA in the early 1980's using ADI.

'Woman of the Year Award' recipient is Christine Cahill, RN, an Infection Preventionist and the 'Man of the Year Award' goes to Derek Butler, chair of MRSA Action UK.  U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois will receive the 'Public Service Award' along with Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois. Additional awards will be announced at the event during the Award Ceremony.

Dr. Jorge Parada – director of infectious disease and medical director of the infection control program at Loyola University Chicago and Marc-Oliver Wright MT(ASCP),MS, CIC,  – corporate director of infection control for NorthShore University HealthSystem and president-elect of APIC Chicago are featured speakers along with MRSA survivors, family members and legislators.

Jeanine Thomas, founder of World MRSA Day and MRSA Survivors Network was the first patient and consumer advocate to raise the alarm about MRSA and healthcare-acquired infections in the U.S. in 2002. She became infected during ankle surgery and was critically ill with MRSA sepsis, osteomyelitis, C. difficile and nearly died.

For further information on how to make a difference, get active, become a sponsor for World MRSA Day, volunteer or donate contact: [email protected] , [email protected] or  call (630) 325-4354 USA.

SOURCE MRSA Survivors Network