Infection Killed Almost 19,000 in 2005, Study Says

"( NYT , Free Reg. Req.) "The study also concluded that 85 percent of invasive M.R.S.A. infections are associated with health-care treatment. Previous research had indicated that many hospitals and long-term care centers have become breeding grounds for M.R.S.A. because bacteria may be transported from patient to patient by doctors, nurses and unsterile equipment." According to another report on the topic, citing data from the CDC, "it appears that more people in the U.S. now die from the mostly hospital-acquired staph infection MRSA than from AIDS." Hospitals and similar health care facilities are better avoided to the highest degree possible. If you must go, take your own precautions and enforce hand washing of staff by making them do it right in front of you. Don't be shy, you pay enough money for your health care to make a few demands."