Roche Diagnostics Supports Fight Against MRSA as a Sponsor of Annual World MRSA Day on October 1

Third annual event held to pay tribute to patients and families, issue call-to-action to eradicate healthcare-associated infection epidemic

News provided by

Roche Diagnostics

Sep 28, 2011, 10:00 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing work in the prevention and control of serious infections in healthcare settings, Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today its sponsorship of the 3rd Annual World MRSA Day. The kick-off event and global MRSA summit will be held on October 1, 2011, at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill.

Organized by the MRSA Survivors Network, World MRSA Day highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to controlling MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a type of bacterium that is resistant to common antibiotics and can cause serious infections. High rates of infection and mortality and high costs of treatment due to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by MRSA are a critical issue for healthcare facilities worldwide. The goal for the event is to raise widespread awareness of the need for greater MRSA prevention, screening, treatment and education.

"Roche applauds the MRSA Survivors Network for bringing this important issue to the forefront and we are honored to be a sponsor of World MRSA Day," said Jack Phillips, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "Healthcare-associated infections caused by MRSA are preventable, and we believe that more education, together with effective screening and infection control programs, can significantly reduce the spread of MRSA and its consequences."

The kick-off event, which features MRSA expert and former CDC scientist William R. Jarvis, M.D., as keynote speaker, will be broadcast live via web stream starting at 10:30 a.m. central time on Oct. 1 and can be viewed at www.worldmrsaday.org and www.MRSAsurvivors.org.

About HAIs and MRSA screening

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by MRSA are a tremendous burden for healthcare systems and hospitals and are associated with significant healthcare costs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that approximately 18,000 persons die of invasive MRSA HAIs in U.S. healthcare facilities annually – more than from HIV/AIDS – underscoring the need for comprehensive infection control programs, along with more rapid and reliable MRSA screening methods. In response to this public health issue, an increasing number of states have passed legislation requiring mandatory reporting and/or screening for HAIs.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2010, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested over 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 47.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com or www.roche-diagnostics.us.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

For further information, please contact:
Betsy Cox
Director, Corporate Communications
Roche Diagnostics Corporation
Indianapolis, IN
(317) 521-3911
[email protected]

SOURCE Roche Diagnostics