State May Require Counties To Report Staph Infections
The Department of Public Health might begin requiring counties to report antibiotic-resistant staph infections in response to a recent spike in cases in California and across the U.S., the Sacramento Bee reports.
Gil Chavez, state epidemiologist, said California does not currently track the rate of staph infections because the bacteria are so common. Only three counties currently have some reporting requirement for staph infections.
Chavez said the state would only track strains off the bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Tracking all types of staph would make it difficult to single out the severe cases, he said.
A recent study by CDC found that MRSA infections are more prevalent than previously believed. Previously found mostly in hospitals and prisons, MRSA is now a community-based disease.
Chavez said state public health officials have contacted other states for advice and will be holding advisory meetings with hospitals, doctors and nurses over the next few weeks (Lin, Sacramento Bee, 11/6).