Senate introduces legislation to combat MRSA infection

As a devastating drug-resistant staphylococcus infection known as MRSA affects hospital patients, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, schoolchildren and other individuals in public places across the country, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has introduced a package of legislation to combat the crisis.

The Protecting Workers from Infectious Agents Act would create a new Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard to protect employees who work with infectious agents or are exposed to drug-resistant infections, such as MRSA. The MRSA Infection Prevention and Patient Protection Act would create a MRSA-prevention program for hospitals and would require hospitals to screen high-risk patients for the infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently calculated that 19,000 Americans are dying of staph infections each year and that MRSA is killing more people annually than AIDS, emphysema or homicide.

“Anyone who is admitted to a hospital, anyone who works in health care or is a first responder should have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their federal government is doing all it can to battle drug-resistant staph infections,” said Senator Menendez. “MRSA is devastating, and we must do everything we can at all levels of government to become educated about and combat this health crisis. These proposals are an important first step, and I will work with my colleagues to make them law.”

Protecting Workers from Infections Agents Act:
The bill would create a new OSHA standard to protect health care workers and first responders, including police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other workers at risk of workplace exposure to infections agents and drug resistant infections, such as MRSA. This bill is co-sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).

MRSA Infection Prevention and Patient Protection Act:
The bill would create a MRSA prevention program for hospitals and would require hospitals to screen high-risk patients for the infection and:

• Screen all Patients Entering Intensive Care Unit
• Prevent the Spread of Infection
• Report Infection Rates
• Report Infection Rates from Non-Hospital Medicare Providers

The program would also encourage best hospital practices, such as hand hygiene and contact precautions in order to prevent the spread of MRSA. This bill is co-sponsored by Senator Durbin.