MRSA survivors say 'superbug' an epidemic

CHICAGO, March 16 (UPI) -- A group of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus survivors said they want U.S. health officials to declare MRSA an epidemic.

Jeanine Thomas, founder of MRSA Survivors Network, said more Americans die annually from invasive MRSA infections than from 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 "superbug," provide prevention funding or mandate that such evidence-based prevention interventions as active detection through surveillance testing and contact isolation be implemented in U.S. hospitals, Thomas said.

The Veteran's Administration hospital system is a shining example of taking action, using active detection through surveillance testing and contact isolation in intensive care units hospital-wide, and now in its long-term care facilities, Thomas said.

"There is no reason why such an intervention is not mandated at all U.S. healthcare facilities," Thomas said in a statement. "More and more patients are dying of MRSA every day and many patients are left permanently disabled."