NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A new law in Tennessee is aimed at trying to control the spread of potentially staph infections.

Video: New Law Requires Hospital Testing For MRSA

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as MRSA, hospitalizes nearly 2,000 Tennesseans every year.

It's easily spread and may only take contact with an infected person or a contaminated surface.

After passing the state Legislature, it was signed into law last week and requires every person admitted to a health care facility to be tested for MRSA.

"This is a killer type of infection, and it's amazing that what can kill it is alcohol," said Rep. Ben West, a Democrat from Hermitage.

Eighty-five percent of cases are associated with health care settings, but MRSA isn't limited to hospitals and nursing homes.

Students at several middle Tennessee schools contracted the infection this year, causing some schools to close down to disinfect the building.

"What has emerged is an organism that lives predominantly in hospitals until now, and it's an organism that is resistant to many antibiotics and many newer generation antibiotics even," said Dr. Geoffrey Fleming of Vanderbilt Pediatric Care.

In the past, the state health department has not kept detailed statistics of people with MRSA. But that's changing and lawmakers believe keeping up with those numbers are important.

"I think it's the first step to controlling MRSA in Tennessee because now we can identify where it is (and) who it's affecting," said West.

The new law also said that a facility can not deny or delay admitting a patient if they've tested positive for the disease.

The best way to protect yourself from any kind of infection is to wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water.