One of several journalist to acknowledge The San Francisco Chronicle Misleading and False Information Concerning MRSA Outbreak Within the Gay Community

1. Over the past two years research scientists from the University of California San Francisco
have been studying the deadly strain of bacteria known as, Methuallen Resistant Staphylococcus
Aureus Clone (MRSA) USA300. MRSA (USA 300) has caused numerous deaths throughout the
United States. This particular strain resists most anti-biotic and is commonly referred to as the
“super bug”. The number of deaths is widely unknown, because hospitals throughout the country
have not been accurately documenting their cases. [ UCSF’s main objective] “was to determine the
incidence of a multi drug resistant MRSA USA 300 in San Francisco and to determine risk factors
for the infection” (Diep 1). UCSF published their research on January 14, 2008 in the Annals of
Internal Medicine Journal online headlining, “ Emergence of Multidrug-Resistant, Community
Associated, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureous Clone USA in men who have sex with
men” (Diep 1). However, UCSF clearly concluded in their research, “ [s]pecific sexual behaviors
were not assessed or documented in clinic charts we therefore cannot comment on the association
between [MRSA] infection and specific male-male sexual practices” (Crain 2). The publication
would emerge like the disease itself, and manifest itself in the minds of journalists. One
overzealous medical reporter, Sabin Russell from the San Francisco Chronicle, was the first to
misconstrue the research studies. His headline for the San Francisco Chronicle stated, “ S.F. Gay
Community an Epicenter for New Strain of Virulent Staph” (Russell 1). His false statements would
cause a stir and hysteria that would sweep across the U.S. and all over the world. Ultimately, Sabin
has failed as a journalist to inform the public and truth and exploited the gay community.
Journalists are not always truthful and apologetic for their actions. This is clearly a danger amongst
all of us.
Shortly after UCSF published their article another fatality had emerge in San Francisco. My
client informed me that her male heterosexual friend had died of deadly MRSA strain bacteria.

2. Unfortunately, he had accidentally cut his elbow while working out at 24-hour fitness. Unaware of
the potential danger he continued to go about his daily routines in life. Within hours the deadly
MRSA strain had taken its course. He developed a fever and flu-like symptoms. After two days of
discomfort he admitted himself into the hospital, but it was too late. The hospital could not stop
this bacterium from killing him. The MRSA had infiltrated his blood stream causing heart failure. It
had only taken 72 hours for this tragedy to occur. How could this be? He was a heterosexual man
working out in a gym! What precautions could have been taken to prevent this tragedy from
occurring? Do you think the San Francisco Chronicle would ever cover this horrific death? Of
course not! The gay community was already exploited all over the front page of their paper! I
written several e-mails to Sabin Russell to take immediate action and publish this news. Did he
jump on his high horse and publish an article in the San Francisco Chronicle? Of course not! There
are so many questions I would like to ask Sabin, but they are all left unanswered. He has had his
one page wonder plastered all over the San Francisco leading everyone to believe the gay
community is the epicenter of this disease when in fact MRSA is affecting the entire community!
Has anyone really considered that gyms may in fact be the breeding ground for MRSA. I
have not seen one published article or research evidence suggesting this claim. The 24 HR Fitness
that exposed my client’s friend to MRSA was not even closed to prevent further exposure to its
members. I contacted 24 HR Fitness to see if they were aware of the situation. The manager
refused to answer any questions, and was not open to any further discussion. I even tried to
contact 24 HR Fitness Headquarters to discuss the current situation , but they have not yet
responded to any of my calls. They could be hiding themselves from exposure because no one
would want to work out in a gym that was carrying life-threatening bacteria! 24 HR Fitness could
potentially loose millions of dollars in membership sales. How many gyms could be prone to
breeding MRSA bacteria? If the San Francisco Chronicle were really interested in providing

3. valuable information to the public they would have taken the time to develop a strong publication.
They would see how many communities are affected by MRSA. There isn’t a MRSA epicenter
anywhere in the United States, because cases are being found all over the world!
MRSA is not only affecting the gay community in San Francisco, but throughout the US.
For instance, “ [l]ast October, a county in southern Virginia closed its 21 schools to clean them to
prevent the spread of a dangerous bacteria infection after a 17 year old high school died from a staff
infection” (Fein 1). “ Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the types of
bacteria which is now found among athletes,, military recruits, and others in general population”
(Fein 2). “ In the past 2 decades, CA-MRSA has emerged as a major community pathogen. This
new entity has a remarkable ability to strike children and young, healthy adults. 7 It has a
predilection for skin and soft tissue and is more virulent than methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus
aureus, causing rapidly progressive cellulitis and necrotizing abscesses. 8–10 Team sport athletes
are especially susceptible to CA-MRSA caused by skin trauma, such as turf burns, abrasions,
shaving, and chafing. Infections are facilitated by the sharing of towels and equipment and
prolonged physical contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other
organizations have reported outbreaks in football, fencing, and wrestling teams” (Romano 1). USC
was able to contain and treat a MRSA outbreak within their collegiate football team and published a
three year long study in the Journal of Athletic Training. They concluded, “Outbreaks of CA-
MRSA in sports teams are very serious, and recognition is crucial. Treatment includes incision for
proper drainage, bacterial culture and sensitivity, and appropriate antibiotic therapy. Infection
control measures include educating athletes and staff, following Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommendations, identifying CA-MRSA carriers with nasal cultures, introducing
hexachlorophene 3% soap intermittently in the showers, making alcohol-based hand sanitizers

4. available on the field, disinfecting weight training and rehabilitation equipment, and using
disposable towels on the field during practices and games. Suzanne Bradley, M.D., and infectious
disease specialist at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and University of Michigan Health
System stated, “ We’ve seen outbreaks in athletes, collegiate athletes and professional football
players. Since staff is acquired primarily by direct contact, anyone with a break in their skin who
has a lot of contact with others is potentially a risk” (Fein 1). How can journalists from all over the
country fail to acknowledge other MRSA cases and misinterpret UCSF’s research study? Is it
because medical writers have never studied medical science?
How can research scientists publish research and then allow the media to misinterpret the
data? There should be a strict editing process before a journalist can publish life-threatening news.
It is crucial to get all the facts together in order to prevent MRSA from infecting other cities
throughout the United States. People are so often consumed with their own lives and depend on
the media to inform them of present dangers. But, there is a huge communication gap between
journalists and medical professionals. Journalists are free to misinterpret research and write
whatever their hearts desire. Sabin wrote his publication within 24 hours after UCSF posted their
research online. How can any journalist spend less than twenty-four hours to analyze years of
research and proceed to write a newspaper article? It’s a race against time, and every journalist
strives to become the first to deliver news beats before anyone else! It happens all of the time, and
Sabin is a clear representation of this horrific situation. Sabin has never studied medicine and should
be removed from his job as a medical writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Newspapers should
require all medical journalists to obtain a medical degree! People can no longer depend on the
media to inform them of any life threatening dangers! As citizens we need to look into other
resources for information other than our local newspapers and news coverage on TV. American
journalism has failed to develop reliable sources of information to the public.

5. After two months of research I was able to locate a grassroots activists group called MRSA
Action Group. MRSA Action Group was organized by Dr. Richard Loftus in efforts to re-educate
the public about MRSA. Currently, Dr. Loftus has been treating patients who have contacted
different strains of MRSA. He has not diagnosed any of the deadly MRSA cases, and is not
convinced the strain is an epidemic in San Francisco. However, he has been able to successfully
treat all of his patients at Davies Medical Center with various antibiotics, and alternative medicines.
But, he like many other doctors cannot explain why some of his patients have a reoccurrence of
MRSA. There is so much more yet we have to learn and understand about this infectious disease.
In a MRSA Action Group meeting held on April , 2008 Dr. Loftus stated, “Although most cases
are curable there isn’t a systematic treatment plan. Doctor’s have to use inconsistent treatment
methods for every individual.” I have found this group to be very responsive in taking immediate
action in preventable measures. The group’s current projects include: working on a report about
MRSA to understand how health departments across the country are monitoring the situation and
educating the public; producing a MRSA 101 video for You Tube distribution; beginning a series of
pub crawls to the gay bars to educate folks about MRSA and it treatment and prevention with the
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The group is continuing their efforts to educate the entire San
Francisco community that MRSA affects everybody and not just the gay community. The group.
Overall I am utterly disgusted with the San Francisco Chronicle. How can anyone believe
anything Sabin Russell publishes? He lacks the knowledge to interpret research and has created
hysteria across the nation. Christian groups have used this opportunity to backlash against the entire
gay community. Matt Barber of Concerned Women of America states, “The medical community
has known for years that homosexual conduct especially amongst males , creates a breeding ground
for often deadly diseases” (Crain 2). Have journalists not learned from their mistakes during the
Aids crisis in the 1980’s? Apparently not! Journalists need to wake up and understand that the gay

6. community is not responsible for spreading diseases across the United States! Furthermore, the San
Francisco Chronicle needs to retract the Sabin Russell article and apologize for their defamation to
the gay community. Scientists and Doctors know more about MRSA than Sabin Russell will ever
begin to understand. Rather than causing hysteria across the nation, he could spend his time
educating himself about MRSA and writing about prevention awareness groups. The MRSA Action
Group will continue to fight back against the San Francisco Chronicle article, and re-educate the
public with the truth. No one has the right to make false statements against any community. I
believe a journalist must be faithful and responsible to inform the public of life-threatening dangers
that may be present amongst our community.