New law designed to eradicate deadly staph infection

New Jersey is taking steps to eradicate potentially deadly staph infections in its hospitals. A new law signed by Gov. Jon Corzine earlier this month requires all hospitals in the Garden State to test patients in ICUs for methicillin-resistant S. aureus, a bacteria known as MRSA that can be contracted during a hospital stay and spread by patients who show no symptoms of illness. CDC statistics indicate that hospital-acquired staph infections are on the rise nationwide. In 1974, MRSA cases accounted for 2% of the total number of staph infections at hospitals; in 2004, the disease accounted for 63%. Under the new law, New Jersey hospitals must now test patients for MRSA when they are admitted and discharged. All cases must be reported to the N.J. Department of Health & Senior Services.

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