[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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