MRSA Activists Unite Globally For World MRSA Day

CHICAGO, Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "More than 285 Americans die every single day from a health-associated infection (HAI) that is mostly preventable and MRSA infections are at the top of the list," states Jeanine Thomas, founder of MRSA Survivors Network and World MRSA Day, October 2. Over two million Americans acquire an infection every year and many suffer greatly, become disabled and lose their quality of life – an infection is a dehumanizing experience.

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MRSA Survivors Network, the nonprofit organization that is a global leader in the fight against MRSA, HAI's and antimicrobial resistance are holding their 4th Annual World MRSA Day Kickoff event and Global MRSA Summit on September 29, 2012 starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago/Oak Brook to raise awareness, educate and to unite the healthcare industry and public to fight against infections. 

World MRSA Day and Global MRSA Summit Main Event

Keynote Speaker is Dr. William R. Jarvis of Jason & Jarvis Associates LLC, formerly with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a leading MRSA expert and infectious disease specialist. Dr. Michael Pulia, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health will speak about community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA).

A video by Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Unite with a personal message about infections will be shown during the main event.

Mr. Rob Stafford, evening news anchor for NBC5 Chicago is the emcee and Reverend Henry Soles, senior chaplain of the Chicago Bulls basketball team will lead in a prayer. MRSA survivors and their families are coming from across the United States and will share their personal stories to help others understand the impact preventable MRSA infections have on them and their families. This annual event brings all stakeholders together in hope for change and in raising awareness.

At the end of the event, a short seminar will be conducted on how to become a 'MRSA Champion' in your community and conclude with a balloon release for those who have suffered or lost a loved one to MRSA or another infection. The event is open to the public with free admission and parking – bring the entire family!

Sponsors: Pfizer, Antimicrobial Copper and media sponsor NBC5 Chicago.

Award Ceremony

This year's award recipients are: Dr. William R. Jarvis of Jason & Jarvis Associates, LLC recipient of the 'Barry M. Farr MD Humanitarian Award,' Illinois Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno is the recipient of the 'Woman of the Year Award' and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton recipient of the 'Man of the Year Award.'

Immediate Action

The epidemic of MRSA healthcare-associated and community-acquired infections needs to be a top political priority as it continues to spread worldwide. The inaction of the World Health Organization (WHO) in not setting up a global surveillance and reporting system for MRSA colonization and infections continues to keep the public and health officials in the dark to the true magnitude of the epidemic. It is still unclear why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to not highly recommend active detection and isolation (ADI) in U.S. hospitals when another U.S. federal agency, the Veterans Administration Health System have been screening all patients for MRSA upon admission to their facilities for many years.  Furthermore, the CDC currently is funding a randomized control trial of measures to control MRSA, all arms of which are using active surveillance testing. If the CDC believes that active surveillance testing does not work, why would they include it in all arms of their study? The CDC has not published MRSA infection rates for U.S. hospitals since 2005.

Events and programs will be held in other U.S. cities and worldwide throughout the month of October, World MRSA Awareness Month with MRSA Survivors Network's alliance partner, MRSA Action UK participating in three U.K. events.

Posters, brochures and banners can be downloaded at www.WorldMRSAday.org and individuals can create their own campaign or event. A public service announcement (PSA) by True Productions will air on NBC Chicago stations and can also be viewed on MRSA Survivors Network YouTube Channel and websites.

MRSA Survivors Network conducts annual designated awareness campaigns worldwide: World MRSA Day, World MRSA Awareness Month and Int'l MRSA Testing Week, April 1-7 and operates the only MRSA Crisis Hotline in the United States: 630 325-4354.

For information on how you can become a corporate sponsor for World MRSA Day, donate ( tax deductible), volunteer and get involved to make a difference, contact us at: 630 325-4354, www.MRSAsurvivors.org, [email protected],  www.Twitter.com/MRSAsurvivors and at Facebook.com/MRSASurvivorsNetwork.

SOURCE MRSA Survivors Network

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