[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 25 (Thursday, February 14, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1072-S1073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 454--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MARCH 2008 AS ``MRSA
AWARENESS MONTH''
Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Specter, and
Mr. Brown) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 454
Whereas Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
is a type of infection that is resistant to treatment with
the usual antibiotics and is one of the most common pathogens
that cause Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) in the
United States and in many parts of the world;
Whereas a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that in 2005 more than 94,000 invasive
MRSA infections occurred in the United States and more than
18,500 of these infections resulted in death;
Whereas the percentage of Staphylococcus aureus infections
in the United States that are attributable to MRSA has grown
from 2 percent in 1974 to 63 percent in 2004;
Whereas the annual number of hospitalizations associated
with MRSA infections, including both HAIs and community-based
infections, more than tripled between 1999 and 2005, from
108,600 to 368,600;
Whereas approximately 85 percent of all invasive MRSA
infections were associated with healthcare;
Whereas serious MRSA infections occur most frequently among
individuals in hospitals and healthcare facilities,
particularly the elderly, those undergoing dialysis, and
those with surgical wounds;
Whereas individuals infected with MRSA are most likely to
have longer and more expensive hospital stays, with an
average cost of $35,000;
Whereas there has been an increase in reported community-
acquired staph infection outbreaks, including antibiotic-
resistant strains, in States such as Illinois, New York,
Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida,
and the District of Columbia;
Whereas clusters of community-acquired MRSA infections have
been reported since the late 1990s among competitive sports
teams, correctional facilities, schools, workplaces, military
facilities, and other community settings;
Whereas a person who is not infected with MRSA can be a
vehicle for the transmission of infections through skin-to-
skin contact; and
Whereas many instances of MRSA transmission can be
prevented through the use of appropriate hygienic practices,
such as hand washing and appropriate first aid for open
wounds and active skin infections, are followed: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the need to apply what is already known
about reducing the transmission of infections in hospitals,
effectively using diagnostics, and ensuring appropriate use
and utilization of antibiotics to meet patient and public
health needs;
(2) recognizes the need to pursue operational research to
find the best ways of preventing hospital- and community-
acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
and developing new antibiotics for improving care for MRSA
patients;
(3) recognizes the importance of raising awareness of MRSA
and methods of preventing MRSA infections;
(4) supports the work of advocates, healthcare
practitioners, and science-based experts in educating,
supporting, and providing hope for individuals and their
families affected by community and healthcare associated
infections; and
(5) designates the month of March 2008 as ``MRSA Awareness
Month''.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in response to the emerging threat of
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, infections, I
introduced legislation in November to improve the prevention,
detection, and treatment of community and healthcare-associated
infections. The Community and Healthcare Associated Infections
Reduction Act of 2007 builds on what hospitals are already doing and
what infectious disease experts and government agencies agree is
critical to reducing the emergence of these infections.
In the last few months, the problem has persisted and Congress has
done little. The problem is not going away. Just last month a hospital
in Chicago treated a patient with a nasty sore on his wrist that was
attributable to MRSA. Unfortunately, the hospital found that the
infection was unresponsive to two medications that have been
recommended, mainstay treatments for MRSA. The already-formidable
microbe has strengthened its defenses.
Scientists are constantly trying to learn more information about MRSA
and its impact on communities, even while healthcare professionals are
fighting to keep patients safe. Although MRSA infections can be mild or
moderate, almost 100,000 become serious and lead to 19,000 deaths each
year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC estimates that in 2005 in the U.S., 94,000 people developed
an
[[Page S1073]]
invasive drug-resistant staph infection. Out of 94,000 infections,
researchers found that more than half were acquired in the health care
system--people who had recently had surgery or were on kidney dialysis,
for example. The 9,000--often needless--American deaths from these
infections every year account for more than the number of people who
died from HIV/AIDS, homicide, emphysema, or Parkinson's.
MRSA infections are a persistent crisis. In 2002, Illinois hospitals
diagnosed 6,841 cases of MRSA. In 2006, that number was 10,714. Steady
growth in the incidence of MRSA cases shows a 56.7 percent increase
over a 5-year period. As a result, the State of Illinois has taken
aggressive steps to identify the infection before it grows out of
control. Illinois was the first State to require testing of all high-
risk hospital patients and isolation of those who carry the MRSA
bacteria. Twenty-two States have passed laws that will give their
residents important information about hospital infections. Nineteen
States have laws that require public reporting of infection rates.
Hospitals are actively working to identify and control infections,
implementing infection control plans to maintain the safety of
patients. For example, Evanston Northwestern Hospital is now placing
patients who test positive for MRSA in ``contact isolation.'' That
means patients are placed in private rooms or rooms with other MRSA-
positive patients. Also, patients who developed symptoms of infection
at the hospitals are tested and treated on the premises. The strategy
is working. Evanston Northwestern went from 1,200 cases of patient-to-
patient MRSA transmission in 2003 to 80 cases in 2006, and the
$600,000-a-year program saved twice as much as it cost.
But we can't leave it up to the hospitals to control these
infections. About half of the infections that end up being treated in
hospitals were actually picked up in the community. Schools in
Illinois, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and
Kentucky have had to close to help contain the spread of an infection.
School officials in Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, and Virginia
have reported student deaths from bacteria, while officials in at least
four other States reported cases of students being infected.
Today, I am introducing a bipartisan resolution with the support of
my colleagues Senator Hatch, Senator Menendez, Senator Specter, and
Senator Brown to designate March as MRSA Awareness Month. We hope this
resolution will bring more attention to the need to address this
critical public health issue--not only by communities and healthcare
organizations, but by the Federal Government.
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