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Requires physicians to report instances of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus infections to the commissioner of health
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Mike Spano
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S8222
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring health care providers to report cases of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus infections
Purpose
To require physicians to report instances of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus infections to the commissioner of health.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends Article 21 of the Public Health Law by adding. a new Title VIII which, upon considering that the infection of a patient in a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility is resisting antibiotic treatment and is or may be Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, the prescribing physician or other prescribing person authorized by law to make a medical diagnosis, shall immediately arrange for the culturing and laboratory testing of such infection, and for apprising the facility's administrator and its director of nursing of the case.
Upon issuing its finding or upon the patients discharge or death, the laboratory shall send a copy to the commissioner which shall promptly forward such report to the health commissioner of the municipality where such infection occurred, When cases of such infection occur in a municipality not having a health commissioner, such reports shall be forwarded directly to the district health officer.
Justification
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infection (MRSA) is often resistant to antibiotics. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).
According to the Center for Disease Control, Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated staph infections include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.
Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infection in the United States and are a common cause of pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and bloodstream infections. The majority of MRSA infections occur among patients in hospitals or other healthcare settings.
A 2007 study published by Public Health Reports revealed that an estimated 1.7 million patients suffer from hospital-acquired infections annually - resulting in 99,000 deaths each year.
This bill, coupled with solid information, proper prevention and care, will help keep MRSA manageable, treatable and actually conquerable.
Prior legislative history
A.10932 of 2008
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The thirtieth day after it shall become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.