Durbin legislation takes on MRSA

Monday, October 29, 2007

CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois Senator Dick Durbin has announced legislation to better detect, prevent and treat drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA.

MRSA is a staph bacteria that doesn't respond to penicillin and similar antibiotics. But it can be treated with other drugs.

Durbin calls the initiative the Community and Healthcare-Associated Infections Reductions Bill of 2007.

Earlier this month cases of drug-resistant staph were reported by schools officials in Evergreen Park, Aurora and Naperville.

Illinois has a law requiring testing for staph infections in hospitals.