Staph survivors plan memorial for victims

Utahns who have survived a bout with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA — an often-deadly staph infection — will hold a candlelight remembrance Friday night at the Capitol for those who have died of the superbug.

Family and friends will gather on the Capitol's south steps at 7 p.m., hoping to build public awareness about the antibiotic-resistant staph infection. The public is invited.

While the HA-MRSA strain has become common in hospitals, particularly among the elderly, another strain known as community-associated or CA-MRSA has begun circulating among the general population, causing serious skin and soft tissue infections and pneumonia.

National activists held their first-ever rally in Chicago on Thursday, noting the infection kills more people than AIDS every year in the U.S.

James Petty, a Utah small-business owner, and his wife, Mary, dealt with MRSA through James' long hospitalization, and they are spearheading the Utah event.

The national Stop MRSA Now coalition recommends the following steps to avoid contracting the infection in the community:

Frequent hand-washing

Disinfect hard surfaces regularly

Keep cuts and wounds clean and covered

Don't share towels, razors or personal items.