30 Northampton County inmates file MRSA suit

[Shardik]

Source: AP

The Associated Press
Updated: 01/24/2009 01:57:55 PM EST

ALLENTOWN, Pa.—Thirty former or current inmates of a northeastern Pennsylvania prison have filed suit in federal court alleging that they contracted a drug-resistent staph infection due to the conditions there and lack of treatment.

The suits against Northampton County Prison and its health care contractor allege that prison conditions have fostered a breeding ground for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA (MUR'-suh).

Attorneys representing the county did not return phone calls seeking comment Friday.

Prison officials in 2005 confirmed that there had been a MRSA outbreak in the prison.

Two former Bucks County inmates won a $1.2 million jury award in a MRSA-related suit in 2005. Another suit ended with officials agreeing to provide better monitoring and prevention methods for the infection.

Read more: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_11545539

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Contracted health care at prisons seems to mirror the health for profit paradigm of the rest of America.