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California passes legislation concerning prevention of staph infections in hospitals

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, October 1, 2008

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Almost four years after vetoing a similar bill, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two bills on September 25 requiring California hospitals to strengthen their efforts in preventing outbreaks of Staphylococcus, reports The Los Angeles Times.

Hospitals will also be required to share their infection rates with the public. Hospitals have had most difficult combating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is spread from patient to patient through unsterile clothing, ventilation systems, surgical equipment, or room furnishings. This strain can be fatal, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 2 million patients nationwide contract an infection each year, and about 100,000 die.

The first bill requests that hospitals test high-risk patients for MRSA within 24 hours of admission while also reporting infection rates to the state. The second bill requires that doctors and medical professionals at hospitals be trained on how to prevent the spread of infections.

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