|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. John Sabatina |
|
Sabatina backs bill to require reporting
of drug-resistant disease cases
HARRISBURG, March 24 – State Rep. John Sabatina, D-Phila., is supporting legislation that would require physicians to report cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to health agencies to prevent its spread.
MRSA is a strain of bacteria that causes staph infections and is resistant to usual antibiotic treatment. It is often referred to as a “superbug.” It is most often spread in hospitals and other health-care facilities and in school settings.
The state House Health and Human Services Committee recently held a public hearing on H.B. 2041, which would require doctors who treat patients with the disease or who they suspect of having the disease to file a report with the local health agency. The local health agency would then submit a report to the state Department of Health.
“This bill would help prevent and control the threat that MRSA can pose to public health,” Sabatina said.
In November, the House adopted Sabatina’s resolution (H.R. 503) urging public awareness and understanding of the dangers of MRSA.
“This bill underlines the seriousness of MRSA and the need to track the disease to prevent widespread outbreaks,” Sabatina said.
l:\print\releases\MRSAhearing.174