Nationwide MRSA Prevalence Study to Demonstrate Full Scope of 'Superbug' Threat Facing U.S. Healthcare Facilities and Patients

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2007 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by APIC:

    WHAT:


    -- First nationwide study of the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant

       Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a virulent multi-drug resistant organism,

       in U.S. healthcare facilities.


    -- MRSA prevalence study findings significantly exceed previous estimates

       and will for the first time provide a picture of the threat MRSA poses

       to patients in facilities caring for virtually every type of patient,

       including acute care, cancer, cardiac, pediatric, rehabilitation and

       long-term care.


    -- The study, funded by the Association for Professionals in Infection

       Control and Epidemiology (APIC), collected data from more than 1,200

       healthcare facilities in all 50 states to determine the current

       magnitude of MRSA.


    -- Results and implications from the study on MRSA will be discussed at

       APIC's 34th Annual Conference & International Meeting.


    WHEN/WHERE:


      12:00 p.m. Eastern, 9:00 a.m. Pacific, Tuesday, June 26, 2007

      San Jose, CA     Marriott, Guadalupe Room

      301 South Market Street (Directions,

      http://www.apic.org/scriptcontent/custom/sites/ac2007/index.cfm)

                  or

      Media call-in connection: 800-308-9694, enter 400179

      For study results, please go to: http://www.apic.org/MRSAStudy (link

      will be live at 12:01 am, 6/25/07)


    WHY:


    -- In 1972, MRSA accounted for only two percent of all Staphylococcus

       aureus healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) reported to the Centers

       for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Today, MRSA accounts for more

       than 60 percent of Staphylococcus aureus infections.


    -- The MRSA death rate has been estimated to be more than 2.5 times higher

       than infections from Staphylococcus aureus that are susceptible to

       methicillin.


    -- While there are a few national MRSA estimates, these are limited in

       scope and size, and therefore, the true magnitude of the total burden

       of MRSA in the U.S. healthcare population is unknown.


    WHO:


    -- Kathy Warye -- Chief Executive Officer, APIC

    -- Denise Murphy, RN, MPH, CIC -- 2007 APIC President

    -- William Jarvis, M.D. -- President, Jason and Jarvis Associates


    CONTACT:


    Journalists wishing to participate in the press briefing in person or via

    telephone and/or arrange interviews please call Jonathan Osmundsen at

    202-261-2869, email: .

CONTACT: Jonathan Osmundsen, +1-202-261-2869,, for APIC Jonathan.Osmundsen@mslpr.com

Web site: http://www.apic.org/

Terms and conditions of use apply
Copyright © 2007 PR Newswire Association LLC. All rights reserved.
A United Business Media Company

Posted: June 2007

Comments