As I watch the news about the staph infections in our communities and schools near and far, I wonder if people are aware just how deadly this infection is and can be.

My husband died July 5, after fighting to survive for more than two years after he contracted hospital-acquired staph in Augusta. From the time he had his knee replaced in March 2005, his problems increased on a weekly basis. He was in and out of the hospital for the balance of his life, and in extreme pain. He had been disabled by a medical error right in our own back yard in January 2002, which rendered him totally and permanently disabled -- legally blind, with brain damage -- and the bout with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus rendered him unable to walk, and even think at times. An infection the magnitude of MRSA, hospital-acquired or community-related, is a very dangerous and costly problem. But the real problem is that it never is totally cured. I know -- I watched my husband die a little every day.

It is a shame that the medical community isn't required to cope with the simple procedures it takes to keep patients safer from MRSA. The simplest measure of prevention of such infections is washing hands, cleaning with better chemicals and having adequate staff on hand to take care of the number of patients instead of requiring one nurse to care for six-plus patients per shift. There should be no reason for anyone to contract MRSA in a hospital setting, nor should there be a reason for any patient anywhere to receive incompetent care.

Dianne Parker, Aiken, S.C.