MRSA Infections Increase, Hospitals Not Doing Enough

Jamie G. Goldstein

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 626

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One of the top infections patients in hospitals die from each year is MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Stayphylococcus Aureus). Even though the infection is becoming more deadly because the bacteria is becoming more resistant to antibiotics, hospitals are not doing enough to combat the infection.

MRSA has become resistant to antibiotics because of the overuse of antibiotic medications. The bacteria often finds its way into hospital patients because these are the people with the weakest immune systems. If the infection is not discovered quickly and treated aggresively, the result may be amputation of a limb or death.

While hospitals know of the risk of MRSA, they are not doing what is necessary to lower the occurrence of the infections. Because the Illinois Department of Public Health does not have guidelines that mandate testing that would decrease the occurrence of MRSA in hospitals, hospitals in Illinois are not putting forth the effort necessary to reduce the number of infections. Hospitals in the near future may be held to a higher standard if Illinois lawmakers agree to recent proposals that would require hospitals to follow stricter rules regarding MRSA.