MRSA, what you need to know
This month, the government released a report stating that 19,000 people died in a recent year in the United States as a result of infection due to methicillin-resistent Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. This report resulted in a lot of media attention and caused a lot of anxiety. Listed below are some facts and some prevention tips.
Staphylococcus aureus, often called gstaph,h is a bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. In fact, 25% - 30 % of the population is colonized, (have the bacteria, but not an infection).
Only about 1% of these individuals are colonized with MRSA.
MRSA occurs most frequently in hospitals and healthcare facilities such as nursing homes. It is most serious in the elderly or those whose immune systems are compromised. There is now a category called
Community-associated MRSA or Ca-MRSA, which is seen in healthy individuals with no recent hospital exposure.
MRSA infections are usually seen as skin infections such as pimples or boils in otherwise healthy individuals. These infections can be red, swollen, painful, and have pus or other drainage. People often think they have a spider bite. Check with your health care provider if any area of the skin looks questionable. MRSA is usually spread by direct skin-to-skin contact.
Most cases of staph and MRSA can be treated with antibiotics or by draining the infection (should be done by a health care provider).
There are several easy steps your family can take to prevent MRSA skin infections:
Practice good hygiene\lots of hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers. We have both available at the South School.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Any break in the skin is a route for infection to enter the body. Invest in a variety of band-aids. Send your child out in the morning with all cuts covered. The band-aids can be taken off when kids get home.
Avoid sharing personal items such as washcloths, towels, razors, uniforms, etc. This is especially important to discuss with your teenage children. Wash sheets, towels and clothing and use a hot dryer rather than air-drying to kill bacteria.
Wash athletic uniforms in hot water after each use. Individuals in contact sports, including football and wrestling, have a greater risk for contracting MRSA.
While MRSA can be fatal, it most often is an easily treatable infection when treated promptly. Although the staph is resistant to the gcillinh category of antibiotics, there are many other antibiotics which can treat the infection.
An individual with MRSA may be advised to shower with special anti-microbial soap. It may be recommended that family members wash their hands with this special soap as well.
Students with MRSA infections do not need to be excluded from school if they can adequately cover the infected area with a bandage. The routine cleaning done in most schools is sufficient to keep the community healthy.
For more information, check out the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) website. One helpful link is www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html
Or on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health site,
www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/antibiotic/mrsa_about.htm
And a wonderful New York Times article
www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/weekinreview/28sack.html
As always, let me know if you need any additional information.
Donna L. Kaplan, R.N.
South School Nurse