MRSA Survivors Network urges CDC to declare MRSA an epidemic

MRSA Survivors Network, the nonprofit organization, along with other advocates, urgently plead with the CDC – (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), along with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to finally acknowledge the public health crisis to the public and take action.

MRSA Survivors Network is calling on Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the CDC along with Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the DHHS to declare MRSA an epidemic and hold a press conference during the Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare- Associated Infections in Atlanta ( Mar. 19-22) with MRSA Survivors Network.

Jeanine Thomas, founder of MRSA Survivors Network states, "This is an opportunity to finally acknowledge this crisis and put vital resources toward raising awareness, educating the public on prevention and for healthcare facilities to take a more proactive approach."

More Americans die annually from invasive MRSA infections than die of HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's Disease, H1N1 flu, homicides, injuries at work and infant mortality, yet Federal Public Health Agencies fail to acknowledge the extent of the problem, provide prevention funding or mandate that such evidence-based prevention interventions, such as active detection through surveillance testing and contact isolation (ADI) be implemented in U.S. hospitals. In addition to the ever growing volume of published literature documenting the efficacy of ADI, there are numerous reports at the CDC's own Decennial Conference documenting the prevention impact of fully implementing ADI.

When will our Federal Public Health Agencies demand what Ministries of Health are demanding in many countries (including Denmark, Holland, Scandinavian countries, France and the United Kingdom)? If Federal Public Health Policy is to be evidence-based, proven methods, such as ADI, should be mandated at all U.S. hospitals.

U.S. Veteran's Administration hospital systems is a shining example of taking action using ADI in their intensive care units, hospital-wide and now in their long-term care facilities. There is no reason why such an intervention is not mandated at all U.S. healthcare facilities. More and more patients are dying of MRSA every day and many patienst are left permanently disabled.

"We are all in this together and we need to work together; can we wait another decade – the loss of life has already been too high from this preventable disease", states Jeanine Thomas.

MRSA Survivors Network is launching a new campaign this year – 'The MRSA Infection Relief Program', and the 'Bandage Care Campaign', which will provide disadvantaged MRSA victims supplies to treat their surgical site infection wounds when at home. This is the first program of its kind in the U.S.

Jeanine Thomas states, "Many MRSA victims can not afford to change their wound dressings and risk amputation". Supplies will be mailed directly to them. The pilot program will start in Illinois and supplies have been donated by Covidien and Tec Labs.