Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Designates November of each year as "C. Difficile Awareness Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating November of each year as "C. Difficile Awareness Month."
Whereas, Clostridioides Difficile, also known as C. Difficile, is a bacterium that causes inflammation of the colon; and
Whereas, The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 500,000 patients nationwide are diagnosed with an C. Difficile infection and require treatment each year; and
Whereas, Each year nearly 29,000 individuals affected by C. Difficile die within 30 days of initial diagnosis, with roughly 15,000 of those deaths directly attributed to C. Difficile infection; and
Whereas, Studies indicate that C. Difficile has become the most common microbial cause of healthcare-associated infection in U.S. hospitals and has exacted up to $4.8 billion each year in excess health care costs for acute care facilities alone; and
Whereas, One out of every five patients with a healthcare-associated C. Difficile infection experiences a recurrence of the infection, and one out of every nine patients aged 65 or older with a healthcare-associated C. Difficile infection died within 30 days of diagnosis; and
Whereas, Improved health practices, such as thorough hand hygiene, and environmental cleaning, can significantly reduce the risk and spread of C. Difficile infection; and
Whereas, Ensuring the education of healthcare workers on proper infection prevention techniques is proven to reduce all types of healthcare-associated infections; and
Whereas, Healthcare facilities employ dedicated professionals who advocate for improving health and promoting patient safety in order to minimize and prevent C. Difficile infections; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper that all citizens and healthcare workers in the State of New Jersey be better informed about C. Difficile infections and the different ways the bacterium can be spread; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. November of each year is designated as "C. Difficile Awareness Month" in the State of New Jersey, and the citizens are urged to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
2. The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public
officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities
and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates November of each year as "C. Difficile Awareness Month" in New Jersey to increase awareness of this harmful bacterial infection.
The joint resolution respectfully requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing November as "C. Difficile Awareness Month" in New Jersey and calls upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.