The full committee held a hearing to examine the public health consequences of infections of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outside of hospitals and other healthcare settings, including the measures people can take to reduce the risk of MRSA infections and what these infections tell us about the public health challenges in addressing such infections. A transcript of this hearing is now available.

The following witnesses testified:

Panel I:

• Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Panel II:

• Dr. James Burns, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Deputy Commissioner for Public Health, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia

• Dr. Elizabeth A. Bancroft, M.D., S.M., Medical Epidemiologist, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, California

• Dr. Robert S. Daum, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

• Mr. Steven L. Walts, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Prince William County Schools, Manassas, Virginia

• Dr. Eric Gale, M.D., Bronx Regional Medical Director, Institute for Family Health