Topic of the Month

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

We all have been hearing a lot about MRSA lately on the news. This is not a new bacteria but one that was usually found in hospitals. Now it is also found in schools, prisons and other places where people have close contact with each other.

What is MRSA?
MRSA is a kind of Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”) bacterium that is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, including methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. It is often resistant to many other antibiotics as well.

How is MRSA spread?
Staph, including MRSA, are spread by direct skin-to-skin contact, such as shaking hands, wrestling, or other direct contact with the skin of another person. Staph are also spread by contact with items that have been touched by people with staph, like towels shared after bathing and drying off, or shared athletic equipment in the gym or on the field.
Most people who have staph or MRSA on their skin do not have infection or illness caused by staph. These people are “colonized” with staph. Staph infections start when staph get into a cut, scrape or other break in the skin. People who have skin infections should be very careful to avoid spreading their infection to others. Steps to prevent spread are listed below.

What are the symptoms of an infection caused by MRSA?
MRSA is a type of staph, so the symptoms of a MRSA infection and the symptoms of an infection due to other staph are often the same. Pimples, rashes, pus-filled boils, especially when warm, painful, red or swollen, can indicate a staph skin infection. Impetigo is one example of a skin infection that can be caused by staph, including MRSA.
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Staph, including MRSA, can also cause more serious infections such as severe skin infection, surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia. The symptoms could include high fever, swelling, heat and pain around a wound, headache, fatigue, and others.

How are MRSA infections treated?
Most MRSA infections are treated by good wound and skin care: keeping the area clean and dry, washing hands after caring for the area, carefully disposing of any bandages, and allowing the body to heal.
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Sometimes treatment requires the use of antibiotics. If antibiotics are needed, it is important for the patient to use the medication as directed unless the healthcare provider says to stop. If the infection has not improved within a few days after seeing the healthcare provider, the student should contact the provider again.

Which groups in the school are most at risk for MRSA infection?
Since 2002, school athletic teams in several states, including Massachusetts , have reported MRSA infections among wrestling, volleyball, and most frequently, football teams. Some colleges have reported MRSA infection cases in residential dormitories.

Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene. However, MRSA infections sometimes occur among previously healthy persons with no identifiable risk factors.

How can staph/MRSA infections be prevented at school and home?

Regular handwashing is the best way to prevent getting and spreading staph/MRSA.
Practice and encourage good skin care. Since staph infections start when staph enter the body through a break in the skin, keeping skin healthy and intact is an important preventative measure.
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water are not accessible.
Take daily showers with soap and water.
Don’t share personal items such as towels, razors, and toothbrushes.
Disinfect athletic equipment between users.
Wear gloves when caring for another person’s wounds, and protect clothing from touching wounds or bandages.
Encourage those infected to always keep draining lesions covered with dressings.
Dispose of dressings containing pus and blood carefully.
Infected persons on antibiotics should finish all of their medication and should never share it with others

For more information, go to the CDC website or call Health Services at x2232.