MRSA bill step closer to becoming law

A bill that would require hospitals to screen high-risk patients for the drug-resistant infection known as MRSA is one step closer to becoming law.

OLYMPIA, Wash. —

A bill that would require hospitals to screen high-risk patients for the drug-resistant infection known as MRSA is one step closer to becoming law.

The Senate unanimously passed the measure Monday, and the measure now goes back to House, which is expected to concur with changes the Senate made.

The legislation was spurred by an investigation of hospital infections by The Seattle Times.

The paper reported the number of MRSA infections in Washington hospital patients grew over a decade from 141 a year to more than 4,700 in 2007.

Nationally MRSA infections kill at least 18,000 people a year - more than AIDS.

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Comments (2)

As we speak my 60 year old Brother is in the Seattle VA Hosp fighting for his life. A typical hip surgery became infected by MERSA and the surgery... Posted on April 14, 2009 at 10:03 AM by Sunshinetoo. Jump to comment

I was doing some research when I saw this, I hope this bill passes. My father died in 2007 from mrsa and no one could even explain it to my family... Posted on April 14, 2009 at 9:01 PM by concerned intx. Jump to comment

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