With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Bill aims to track number of CA 'superbug' infections and deaths
Listen
• 0:54
An illustration of a group of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria.
(
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
)
An illustration of a group of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria.
(
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
)
A bill pending in the state legislature would require California hospitals to start reporting all infections and deaths from antibiotic-resistant "superbugs." The measure would also require doctors to report some of these infections on death certificates.
California currently requires hospitals to report on three types of antibiotic-resistant infections, but only if the infections are acquired in the hospital. There are another 15 serious superbug infections that hospitals don't have to report.
State Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) says that's why he introduced SB 43. "Without data we can't do much of anything," he says.
The bill would require hospitals to provide a yearly summary of antibiotic-resistant infections to the California Department of Public Health. And for the first time, physicians would have to list these infections on death certificates if they believed that the infection was a factor in a patient’s death.
Support for LAist comes from
The Department of Public Health would publish the information in an annual report.
The purpose of the bill is to "identify where the problem areas are [and] how extensive the problem is," says Hill, who adds, "today we're shooting in the dark." He believes more data will enable the state to better respond to superbug infections.
Hill introduced similar legislation in 2014, but he says concerns about costs and standards led his fellow lawmakers to strip the tracking provisions from the bill.
Hill says he is optimistic this time around.
He acknowledges that "this will require a little more work on the part of hospitals," and says, "in the past [they] have been reluctant to increase their workload." But he stresses that "we want to work closely with them, they're always good partners."
The California Hospital Association has "not yet taken a position on that piece of legislation," says spokeswoman Jan Emerson-Shea, who adds, "we have and are still reviewing it."
Some California counties already require local hospitals to report some antibiotic-resistant infections. On Thursday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued an order requiring all acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to provide the department with a yearly report on one type of bacteria: carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, commonly known as CRE.
Support for LAist comes from
CRE are causing thousands of infections and hundreds of deaths a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist