NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Jill E. McCormick, Director, Marketing & Planning
St. Edward Mercy Health System
Phone: 479-314-6037
Email: jill.mccormick@mercy.net

St. Edward Mercy to Host First-Ever CA-MRSA Community Present

Fort Smith, Ark. – May 13, 2009 - St. Edward Mercy Medical Center will host its first-ever CA-MRSA presentation for the public from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 18 at Mercy Fitness Center. Those attending the presentation will learn how to define Staphylococcus Aureus and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA); recognize the differences between community and hospital-acquired MRSA infections; recognize the risk factors for MRSA infection; recognize the potential severity of CA-MRSA infections, and prevent the spread of MRSA.

“Being educated about MRSA is vital to the health of our entire community,” said Pat Morris, grant administrator and medical librarian for St. Edward Mercy. “We believe that by being able to identify the signs of MRSA and how to prevent it, that families will live healthier lives.”

Classes are made by possible by a community education grant St. Edward Mercy received from The National Network of Libraries South Central Region in March 2009. St. Edward Mercy was one of two medical libraries to receive this grant in a five-state area (Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico).

CA-MRSA is Community Associated Methicillin-Resistant S. Aureus. The Centers for Disease Control has investigated clusters of CA-MRSA skin infections among athletes, military recruits, and children. Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene. For more information about CA-MRSA, visit www.cdc.gov.

This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services under Contract No. N01-LM-6-3505 with the Houston Academy of Medicine – Texas Medical Center Library.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS: Pat Morris, medical librarian and grant administrator