THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HESS, GEIST, STERN, BOBACK, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, FARRY, GOODMAN, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, M.K. KELLER, KNOWLES, KULA, MANN, MARSHALL, MILLER, MUNDY, MURT, PICKETT, PYLE, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, K. SMITH, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, JANUARY 27, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JANUARY 27, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Department of Health to revise its disease monitoring

practices in this Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

is a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to some

antibiotics; and

WHEREAS, MRSA infection is fairly common, and most of it does

not have public health consequences; and

WHEREAS, MRSA infections can lead to invasive disease of the

joints, organs or bloodstream, which can be serious; and

WHEREAS, MRSA illness can be transmitted within the community

in settings like schools, correctional facilities or athletic

settings; and

WHEREAS, Public health intervention in the community can help

stop the spread of the disease; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Health regulations are not

consistent in that they require the reporting of chicken pox,

while ignoring MRSA; therefore be it 

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the

Department of Health to publish revisions to its regulations on

disease monitoring practices in this Commonwealth; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the surveillance of Methicillin-resistant

Staphylococcus aureus in community settings be addressed in the

new regulation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the new regulation treat Methicillin-resistant

Staphylococcus aureus infections as seriously as chicken pox;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health promulgate the new

regulation as proposed rulemaking within 90 days.