[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Page 29099]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               VETERANS HOSPITALS COMBAT STAPH INFECTIONS

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I find it disturbing and disheartening to 
know that efforts to heal through modern medicine end up creating new 
medical problems, in addition to those that are preexisting. 
Unfortunately, this is what is occurring with the rise of dangerous 
drug-resistant forms of staph that have become prevalent as of late. I 
want to talk about the potential dangers of these infections, 
especially in a medical environment where patients are most vulnerable, 
and also give much-deserved praise to the Department of Veterans 
Affairs for their work to combat staph infections in their hospitals.
  There are many types of staph bacteria. While some forms of staph are 
harmless, others are fatal. A recent study conducted by the Association 
for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology suggests that 
as many as 1.2 million U.S. hospital patients are infected every year 
by a form of staph that is resistant to drugs.
  Drug-resistant staph, often referred to as MRSA, Methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus, has adapted in response to common 
antibiotics which have been used to combat these and other infections. 
Most staph infections arise from visits to the hospital and other 
health care settings.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs is taking effective steps to 
reduce staph infections in their hospitals. Based on a successful pilot 
program at VA's Pittsburgh health care system, VA has instituted a 
staph prevention program in all 153 of their hospitals. Their 
prevention system is based on a strategy of enhanced hygiene and 
culture change among health care workers. Patients are monitored, 
proven precautions are followed for those affected, and close attention 
is paid to common sources of infection. The Pittsburgh pilot led to a 
50-percent decline in staph infections, something Acting VA Secretary 
Gordon Mansfield referred to as ``dramatic reductions'' in staph 
infections, and I look forward to similarly positive outcomes across 
the veterans' health care system.
  It is my hope that VA will continue to improve their prevention 
programs and share information with other health care providers. This 
will help VA safeguard our veterans and their families from staph 
infections, serve as a successful model for our country's hospitals and 
medical facilities, and improve the well-being of our Nation's 
citizens.

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