Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th July 2024 Issue no. 1124

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10th Anniversary of World MRSA Day - A call to action

World MRSA Day, October 2nd and World MRSA Awareness Month, October, are annual designated awareness dates and draw critical attention to the global public health crisis. 'The ongoing MRSA Epidemic - A Call to Action' is this year's global theme.

In the US, 85% of all MRSA infections are acquired in healthcare facilities and campaigners are calling for immediate action from the US Congress and the production of public awareness programs implemented like there were for HIV/AIDS.

They say that the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention continues to vastly under-report MRSA infection rates in the US and that there is a significant lack of transparency worldwide. In the US, community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infection rates are not even being reported and they are increasing.

"We need a worldwide surveillance system set up by the World Health Organization to track MRSA infection rates and published on a public website," they say.

A bundled, comprehensive approach is needed for infection control in healthcare facilities, such as:

* Active detection & isolation (using rapid testing)
* Strict adherence to hand hygiene
* Thorough decontamination of the environment using the latest technology
* Implementing a good stewardship program for antibiotics
* All high-risk patients should be screened upon admission to a hospital.

The 10th Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff Event & C.diff Summit was held on 29th September in Chicago and was a great success. Free MRSA screening was offered to attendees (Roche Diagnostics), which is the first time in the US and globally for it to occur.

National Sponsors: Gold - Roche and Cepheid, Silver- Melinta, NBC5 Chicago and Telligen. Local event sponsors: Natural Health Research Foundation, Xenex & Brad Chartrand.

Downloadable posters are at MRSA Survivors Network and their alliance partners MRSA Action UK and Kewaunee CARES will be promoting World MRSA Month.

MRSA Survivors Network was founded in 2003 - the first patient/consumer advocacy organisation in the US to raise the alarm concerning MRSA and healthcare-acquired infections. They give support to MRSA patients, families, educate, raise awareness and are dedicated to saving lives.

For information on becoming a Corporate Sponsor, donate, or volunteer:

T: 630 325-4354
E: [email protected]
W: www.MRSAsurvivors.org

4th October 2018