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Latest Sumner County School Health News 03/17/09: A case of MSRA has been confirmed this week at North Sumner Elementary School.
Local, regional, and state health officials have assured us that this situation is not unusual, nor is it a cause for undue alarm. Rest assured that we are taking proactive steps to protect students and staff by following the advice given to us by our public health officials.
Appropriate measures have been taken involving the individual with the infection. Privacy laws prevent us from making any additional comment about this person. We are taking steps in addition to our normal procedures to clean and disinfect areas in the school where germs could be spread. This process began this morning.
In addition, we have sent a letter home to parents advising them of the situation. A copy of the letter and additional information can be found below.
We ask parents to encourage their children to wash their hands often using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and to clean and disinfect objects (such as gym and sports equipment) before use. Parents should also wash dirty clothes, linens and towels, uniforms with hot water and laundry detergent.
This brings the number of MSRA cases confirmed in our system this school year to nine. In addition to North Sumner, cases have been reported at Merrol Hyde Magnet, Guild Elementary, Ellis Middle School, Rucker Stewart, Portland Middle, Bethpage Elementary, Howard Elementary and T.W. Hunter Middle School.
2009 Northsumner-ESStaphParentLetter 01.pdf
CDC Staph Info.pdf
INFORMATION REGARDING STAPH AND MRSA
What is Staphylococcus aureus?
· This bacteria, often called Staph, is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S.
· Staph is usually found on the skin or in the noses of healthy people.
· The majority of Staph infections are minor (pimples and boils)
· Staph can also cause more serious infections such as surgical wound
infections and pneumonia that require special antibiotics for treatment.
What is MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus)?
· MRSA is a type of Staph germ that is hard to treat with some commonly used antibiotic medicines. It has
developed something called resistance, or the inability of certain antibiotics to kill the germ.
· Because of resistance, MRSA can be hard to treat and can lead to
life-threatening blood or bone infections.
What does an MRSA infection look like?
· It is often misdiagnosed as a spider bite.
· Symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, pus, skin tenderness, pimples, boils or blisters.
· MRSA-infected skin lesions (sores) can change from skin or surface
irritations to abscesses or serious skin infections.
· If left untreated, MRSA can infect blood and bones.
How is MRSA spread?
· MRSA lives on skin and survives on objects and surfaces for more than 24 hours.
· Drainage (pus) from skin sores can spread bacteria to other body parts or to other people.
· MRSA infections can be found in places where there are crowds of people such as schools, gyms and jails.
· MRSA is almost always spread by direct, physical contact.
· MRSA is also spread through touching objects such as towels, sheets, workout areas and sports
equipment that have MRSA germs on them.
How do I know for sure that I have MRSA?
· A sample of the infected wound is used to grow the bacteria in the micro biology laboratory. This is called a
culture.
· Once the MRSA are growing, they are tested to see which antibiotics will be effective for treating the
infection.
· If the Staph germs that were cultured cannot be killed with standard antibiotics, then the infection is called
MRSA.
What kind of treatment can I get for my MRSA infection?
· Many MRSA infections can be treated by draining the abscess or boil and may not require antibiotics.
· Only healthcare providers should drain sores.
· Always keep draining sores covered to prevent others from getting sick.
· Most MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. If your case is severe, you may need very strong
antibiotics that can only be given in a hospital.
How do I keep Staph infections from spreading?
· Wash your hands often or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
· Keep your cuts and scrapes clean and cover them with bandages
· Do not touch other people’s cuts or bandages
· Do not share personal items like towels or razors.
· Clean and disinfect objects (such as gym and sports equipment) before use.
· Wash dirty clothes, linens and towels, uniforms with hot water and laundry detergent. Using a hot dryer,
rather than air drying, also helps kill the bateria.
· Avoid using unnecessary antibiotics.
What happens at school when a confirmed case of MRSA is identified?
· The principal and/or school nurse notifies the nursing supervisor for Sumner County Schools.
· Nursing supervisor notifies the Facilities Department for cleaning the appropriate school spaces and school
buses if necessary according to specifications from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia.
· Nursing supervisor notifies the Supervisor of Board and Community Relations who posts the school location
of the confirmed case on the school system website.
· Other school system departments and public health officials may be notified if necessary.
· Letters to parents may be sent home with every student if circumstances warrant such communication.
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Sumner County Schools
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