IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 988 
Designating the month of March 2008 as ‘‘MRSA Awareness Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 
Mr. MATHESON (for himself, Mrs. CUBIN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. FERGUSON, Mr. 
CUMMINGS, Mr. SESSIONS, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. ROSS, Mr. FOSSELLA, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. 
HINOJOSA, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. BAIRD, and Ms. HOOLEY) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Designating the month of March 2008 as ‘‘MRSA Awareness 
Month’’. 
Whereas Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) 
is a type of infection that is resistant to treatment with 
the usual antibiotics and is one of the most common 
pathogens that cause Healthcare-Associated Infections 
(HAIs) in the United States and in many parts of the 
world; 
Whereas a study led by the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention estimates that in 2005 more than 94,000 
invasive MRSA infections occurred in the United States 
and more than 18,500 of these infections resulted in 
death; 
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•HRES 988 IH 
Whereas the percentage of Staphylococcus aureus infections 
in the United States that are attributable to MRSA has 
grown from 2 percent in 1974 to 63 percent in 2004; 
Whereas the annual number of hospitalizations associated 
with MRSA infections, including both HAIs and commu-
nity-based infections, more than tripled between 1999 
and 2005, from 108,600 to 368,600; 
Whereas approximately 85 percent of all invasive MRSA in-
fections were associated with healthcare; 
Whereas serious MRSA infections occur most frequently 
among individuals in hospitals and healthcare facilities, 
particularly the elderly, those undergoing dialysis, and 
those with surgical wounds; 
Whereas individuals infected with MRSA are most likely to 
have longer and more expensive hospital stays, with an 
average cost of $35,000; 
Whereas there has been an increase in reported community- 
acquired staph infection outbreaks, including antibiotic- 
resistant strains, in States such as Illinois, New York, 
Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, North Carolina, 
Florida, the District of Columbia, and Alaska; 
Whereas clusters of community-acquired MRSA infections 
have been reported since the late 1990s among competi-
tive sports teams, correctional facilities, schools, work-
places, military facilities, and other community settings; 
Whereas a person who is not infected with MRSA can be a 
vehicle for the transmission of infections through skin-to- 
skin contact; and 
Whereas many instances of MRSA transmission can be pre-
vented through the use of appropriate hygienic practices, 
such as hand washing and appropriate first aid for open 
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•HRES 988 IH 
wounds and active skin infections, are followed: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the United States House of Rep-
resentatives— 
(1) recognizes the need to apply what is already 
known about reducing the transmission of infections 
in hospitals and assuring appropriate use and utili-
zation of antibiotics to meet patient and public 
health needs; 
(2) recognizes the need to pursue operational 
research to find the best ways of preventing 
hospital- and community-acquired Methicillin-resist-
ant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and developing 
new antibiotics for improving care for MRSA pa-
tients; 
(3) recognizes the importance of raising aware-
ness of MRSA and methods of preventing MRSA in-
fections; and 
(4) supports the work of advocates, healthcare 
practitioners, and science-based experts in edu-
cating, supporting, and providing hope for individ-
uals and their families affected by community and 
healthcare associated infections. 
Æ 
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