FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Date: October 1, 2008

 Contact:   Anthony Stahl
                 Director HR/Marketing
                 Howard Memorial Hospital
                 707-456-3101

Willits - Howard Memorial Hospital has just purchased state-of-the-art testing equipment to analyze for a type of Staph aureus infection called MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph aureus.) The infection is a strain of Staph aureus that’s resistant to the commonly used broad spectrum antibiotics. The infection can be serious and sometimes fatal.

Daria Fletcher, infection control and prevention nurse for HMH stated “MRSA generally starts as a small red bump that resembles a pimple, or boil. This area can quickly turn into painful abscesses that require surgical draining.” These infected areas can also penetrate into the body and cause life threatening infections.

Arpad Peter, lab director for HMH said “We are thrilled with the purchase of this equipment which will be used to screen for MRSA. We will be able to have test results available in about an hour. On-site validation studies are in process, and should be completed by the first of November. The instrument, called the Gene Xpert, is produced by the Cepheid Company and was originally developed for the military. It is compact, durable and dependable.

Peter commented, “We are the only facility in the region that has this capability for rapid MRSA testing. We are pleased that we can serve our community with this excellent technology. “

Fletcher commented with a smile, “Our hospital is ahead of the curve on MRSA testing and detection. It’s interesting to note that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed SB 1058 which requires more intense screening for MRSA beginning in 2009.” The measure requires California hospitals to strengthen their efforts at preventing staph outbreaks and to reveal to the public their rates of infection. “We just want to protect our patients and this new equipment will help us do that,” commented Fletcher.

“We are pleased to offer this new equipment to our community and look forward to serving our area with the very best patient care, and technology,” commented Kevin Erich, President and CEO of Howard Memorial Hospital.

Photo: Daria Fletcher, Infection Control Nurse along side the new equipment