For more information, contact: Scott Clark Media and Public Relations 254-724-9724 or 254-724-3047 Pager: 254-762-1406 sdclark@swmail.sw.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 2007

Scott & White to test all hospital patients for MRSA
$1 million investment to target spread of “super bug” staph infections

TEMPLE, Texas – In a major push to halt the spread of so-called super bugs, Scott & White on Monday began testing all patients admitted to its hospitals.

“We will be conducting 100 percent testing of all admitted hospital patients to identify if they are carriers of the MRSA bacteria when they enter the hospital,” said Gail VanZyl, executive director of safety and quality at Scott & White in Temple. “Many people are carriers of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus without even knowing it, and are problem-free. This will help us support a safe, healthy environment for our patients and their families when they are admitted to a Scott & White hospital.”

VanZyl said that when a person is healthy, this bacterium is not a problem. However, natural protections are reduced when people become sick or hospitalized.

“Our hope is that this program will help us educate the public, our staff, our patients and their families about precautions they may need to take to prevent the spread of MRSA infections,” said VanZyl.

The painless test involves a swab of the nostrils. Instead of using standard laboratory cultures, which can take as long as 72 hours to deliver results, Scott & White uses molecular methods to identify the presence or absence of staph bacteria in one to two hours.

“Scott & White has embarked on an all-out assault on MRSA infections, and that includes investing in state-of-the-art molecular testing that will give us results in record time,” said VanZyl. She noted that Scott & White is spending close to $1 million annually on its MRSA prevention efforts.

Controlling the spread of MRSA is simple: careful and frequent hand washing. Other measures include the use of special cleaning solutions to kill the virulent MRSA bugs in patient rooms, judicious use of antibiotics to lessen the possibility of antibiotic resistance, and increased frequency for thorough sanitizing of medical equipment such as gurneys and stethoscopes.

“The spread of MRSA is easily preventable,” said Dr. Jeffrey Tramonte, chief of medicine for the Scott & White Hospital at University Medical Campus  in Round Rock. “With the public’s involvement combined with our diligence in fighting these super bugs, we will be able to prevent the spread of this virulent infection.”

Patients whose MRSA tests are positive will be notified while in the hospital, and special precautions will be taken during their stay. They will also receive special training and information so that they do not spread the bacteria or infections once they return home, to work or other public places.

“We have made a commitment in training, staffing, equipment and dollars to protect our patients, our community and our health care professionals from these infections because our patients deserve to be protected,” VanZyl said. “We are trying to protect the community as much as we are moving to assure our patients that they are not exposed to staph infections in or out of the hospital.”

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