CHICAGO, Sept. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- We have a significant lack of transparency in the United States and worldwide concerning MRSA. "MRSA must immediately become a top political priority", states Jeanine Thomas, founder of MRSA Survivors Network and World MRSA Day.
In the United States, MRSA infection rates are vastly under reported and community-acquired MRSA infection rates are not even being reported. 'The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action' is this year's global theme.
Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA), the antibiotic resistant form of Staphylococcus aureus is rampant and an ongoing epidemic in U.S. healthcare facilities, in the community, in livestock and in the environment. C. difficile is also at epidemic levels in U.S. hospitals. Every healthcare facility should be implementing active detection and isolation (ADI) for MRSA along with decontaminating the environment, strict adherence to hand hygiene and prudent use of antibiotics.
World MRSA Day, October 2 and World MRSA Awareness Month, October are annual awareness campaigns to raise awareness to the global ongoing MRSA epidemic.
Chicago Kickoff Event – September 26, 2015
The 7th Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff Event & Global C. difficile Summit will be held, Saturday September 26, 2015 from 10:30am – 12:30pm at the Community House in Hinsdale, Illinois. Free parking and admission – bring the entire family and learn how you can help to prevent an infection. Infection Control Preventionists, Nurses, Physicians, medics and other healthcare workers are urged to attend and learn from leading experts. We are all in this together and everyone is at risk.
Sponsors: Gold – Roche, NBC5 Chicago and Xenex.
Event Program
Master of Ceremony is Mr. Rob Stafford, evening news anchor of NBC5 Chicago.
Chief Golden Light Eagle, a Dakota Chief will conduct the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Keynote speaker is William R. Jarvis, M.D, president of Jason & Jarvis Associates, LLC – a world renowned MRSA expert and infectious disease specialist, formerly with the CDC. Others presenting are Michael S. Pulia, M.D. from University of Wisconsin/Madison along with Mr. Lynn Utesch of Kewaunee Cares who will speak about livestock-acquired MRSA (LA-MRSA). Survivors will share their compelling stories.
Town Hall Meeting Discussion
Following the presentations the audience will be able to ask the experts questions along with the media concerning; MRSA, C. difficile and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The focus will be on prevention and how these pathogens are transmitted.
Award Ceremony
Recipient of the "Person of the Year" award is Michael S. Pulia M.D FAAEM FACEP, Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health.
"MRSA Youth Champion 2015-2016" is Joseph Paz of University of New Mexico and Las Cruces, NM.
A balloon release will conclude the event.
Co-chairs of the event are: Jeanine Thomas – MRSA Survivors Network and Pat Merryweather – Telligen. Honorary Committee Members are: Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, Republican Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, Republican House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and State Rep. Patti Bellock.
Downloadable posters, brochures and banners are available at www.WorldMRSAday.org and a public service announcement https://youtu.be/IKBv8VXhhmo with Mr. Rob Stafford of NBC5 Chicago and produced by True Productions will air on NBC Chicago stations and can also be viewed on MRSA Survivors Network YouTube Channel and websites.
Awareness events are being held throughout the month of October in the United States and in the UK with MRSA Action UK. Global Hand Washing Day is October 15th.
MRSA Survivors Network was the first patient and consumer advocacy organization in the United States to raise the alarm in 2003 concerning MRSA and healthcare-acquired infections. Jeanine Thomas founder of MRSA Survivors Network and World MRSA Day became critically ill and nearly died from MRSA sepsis and C. difficile after ankle surgery.
MRSA Survivors Network in the News
NBC5 Chicago is honoring Jeanine Thomas and MRSA Survivors Network and will be featured on a segment for "Making a Difference" for their contribution to the community, which will air this fall.
MRSA Survivors Network has been selected to receive the '2015 Best of Hinsdale Award' in the Non-Profit Organization category by the Hinsdale Award Program.
For information on how you can become a Corporate Sponsor (sponsorships and donations are tax deductible), organize an event, donate, volunteer 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.
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SOURCE MRSA Survivors Network
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