The California Department of Health has issued an All Facilities Letter urging healthcare facilities to develop new or review existing policies and procedures on the prevention and control of antibiotic-resistant organisms, in response to a CDC study on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The study found that the estimated number of people developing serious MRSA infections in 2005 was about 94,360, with approximately 18,650 deaths related to these infections. About 85% of all invasive MRSA infections were associated with healthcare, and of those, about two-thirds occurred outside of the hospital, while about one-third occurred during hospitalization. The letter recommends implementing strategies and practices to prevent the transmission of MRSA, as well as providing administrative and scientific leadership and financial and human resource commitment. Additional information for long-term care facilities is available at the CDC site. The letter emphasizes that MRSA presents a significant challenge to California healthcare facilities and calls for all responsible parties to become informed on these issues, adopt and follow evidence-based guidelines, and provide support to others to do the same.

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