PRINTER'S NO. 1969
No. 295 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY BRUBAKER, FERLO, GREENLEAF, BOSCOLA, KASUNIC,
TARTAGLIONE, DINNIMAN, STACK, BAKER, ARMSTRONG, C. WILLIAMS,
FONTANA, STOUT, ERICKSON, PUNT, TOMLINSON, O'PAKE,
WASHINGTON, RAFFERTY, ORIE AND COSTA, APRIL 28, 2008
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, APRIL 28, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of May 18, 2008, as "MRSA Awareness Week"
2 in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus auerus (MRSA)
4 is a type of staphylococcal infection that is resistant to
5 treatment with the usual antibiotics; and
6 WHEREAS, The proportion of infections which are antimicrobial
7 resistant in the United States has grown from 2% in 1974 to more
8 than 60% in 2008; and
9 WHEREAS, About 85% of all invasive MRSA infections are
10 associated with health care both inside and outside of hospitals
11 and health care facilities, particularly among the elderly,
12 those undergoing dialysis and those with surgical wounds; and
13 WHEREAS, Individuals infected with MRSA are likely to have
14 longer and more expensive hospital stays; and
15 WHEREAS, About 14% of all MRSA infections occur in
16 individuals without obvious exposure to health care, including
17 community settings, schools and competitive sports teams, where
1 it is transmitted through personal contact; and
2 WHEREAS, Anyone, not just an infected patient, can be a
3 vehicle for the transmission of MRSA through skin-to-skin
4 contact; and
5 WHEREAS, MRSA is a preventable disease when appropriate
6 hygienic practices, such as hand washing and appropriate first
7 aid for open wounds and active skin infections, are followed;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, Countries such as Denmark, Finland and the
10 Netherlands have successfully controlled MRSA through aggressive
11 interventions; and
12 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has acknowledged the seriousness
13 of this issue through the enactment of Chapter 4 of the act of
14 March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care
15 Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, adopting a
16 comprehensive approach to the problem of hospital-acquired
17 infections, an approach that has the potential to save lives,
18 avoid health complications and contain some health care costs;
19 therefore be it
20 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of May 18, 2008,
21 as "MRSA Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the Senate continue to recognize the
23 importance of raising awareness of MRSA and methods of
24 preventing MRSA infections.
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