LEG{WA}: HB 1123 MRSA-prevention hospital guidelines

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Monday, April 13, 2009 11:18 AM

LEG{WA}: HB 1123 MRSA-prevention hospital guidelines

Washington State House of Representatives FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 2009 For Interviews: Tom Campbell 360-786-7912 Protection against infectionState Legislature passes Rep. Campbell’s MRSA-prevention hospital guidelines OLYMPIA – The state Senate today concurred unanimously with the House in passing tough new procedures to help prevent the spread of infections acquired in hospitals and other health facilities. Over the past five years, twenty-six other states have passed legislation that requires hospitals to track and report their rates of infection. A handful of those have gone a step further to combat the infections. Their concerns are valid, believes State Representative Tom Campbell (R – Roy), the prime sponsor of the legislation. In 2007 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that approximately 94,360 people nationwide developed a serious methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in 2005. Of these people, the CDC estimated that approximately 18,650 died during a hospital stay related to the infection. Campbell’s bill, HB 1123, requires better testing and safeguards against MRSA, the flesh-eating bacteria dubbed a “superbug” due to its drug-resistance. The MRSA bacteria can be spread quite easily through skin contact. Some of these infections are minor; others however, can lead to serious complications, even death, for hospital patients already fighting other illnesses. Campbell’s bill lays out minimum guidelines and policy procedures that must be adopted by state health care facilities, including: · A procedure for identifying and testing "at-risk patients" for MRSA. · Appropriate procedures to help prevent patients who test positive from infecting otherpatients, including segregation; and· A requirement that every patient who tests positive for MRSA be given oral and writteninstructions regarding aftercare and precautions to prevent further spread of the infection.Campbell’s bill met stiff opposition from hospital administration and health care providers that are concerned tighter regulations could drive up the cost of health care. But Campbell believes testing for the problem will be less expensive than dealing with the aftermath of prolonged illness, potential deaths, and the ensuing liability. “With the right procedures and guidelines in place, the rate of hospital-acquired infections can be greatly reduced,” said Campbell. “But, as is often the case when protecting the average citizen, it just took the state stepping in to say, ‘Enough is enough, take care of this problem before it gets any worse.” ###Contact: Tom Campbell 360-786-7912Campbell.tomDownloadable photo:http://www1.leg.wa.gov/documents/house/members/photos/campbell.jpg

 

 

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