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25-10-2007, 05:11 AM
Published: October 19, 2007 09:43 am print this story email this story comment on this story
Recent staph outbreaks raise concerns
By Heather Pyles / Staff Writer
The recent death of a high school student in Virginia from a treatment-resistant form of staph infection has brought the common infection to the front of parents’ and school administrators’ minds.
A press release was sent out Thursday by the state Cabinet of Health and Family Services outlining ways to prevent the spread of the infection.
According to the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria commonly carried on the skin or nose of a healthy person, but it can cause a skin infection in certain instances.
Most strains of staph are easily treatable with antibiotics, and the infection can be stopped by taking simple preventative measures, but increasingly, staph infections are being caused by a certain drug-resistant form of the bacteria.
That form, called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is what killed high school senior Ashton Bonds, 17, of Bedford, Va.
Bonds attended Staunton River High School, and Virginia officials shut down 21 schools Wednesday for cleaning.
Schools in Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio and Michigan have reported cases, CNN reported.
MRSA is treatable with certain drugs, but the treatment time may last longer and be more expensive.
Staph infections, including the serious MRSA strain, have spread through schools recently.
Brenda Hammons, the assistant superintendent of Corbin schools, said the district takes every precaution to help prevent the spread of staph infection.
“We are vigilant about keeping our buildings clean,” Hammons said.
Hammons said teachers keep antibacterial wipes with them to wipe tables clean, and good hygiene like hand washing is encouraged.
Hammons said schools see several cases of staph infection throughout the year, but currently there are no cases of MRSA in the system.
“We’re just making sure we’re following all the protocols we need to,” Hammons said.
Hammons said if a student is discovered to have staph infection, that student is immediately sent to a physician and the area he or she occupied is thoroughly cleaned.
Staph infection can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or sharing an item used by an infected person, especially one with an open wound.
Many infections are spread in gyms and locker rooms where athletes and classmates share equipment.
Many marks caused by staph infection are mistaken for bug bites, and the marks are often red, swollen, painful and draining.
The spread of the infection can be prevented by covering marks with dry bandages, by not sharing items with those infected, and by thoroughly cleaning items used by an infected person, including utensils, towels and clothes.
For more information about staph infection, including the MRSA strain, visit the Department of Public Health website at http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/MRSA.htm or contact your local health department.
- http://www.thetimestribune.com/local/local_story_292094314.html
_
See also:
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received inquiries about infections with antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) among persons who have no apparent contact with the healthcare system. This fact sheet addresses some of the most frequently asked questions."
Recent staph outbreaks raise concerns
By Heather Pyles / Staff Writer
The recent death of a high school student in Virginia from a treatment-resistant form of staph infection has brought the common infection to the front of parents’ and school administrators’ minds.
A press release was sent out Thursday by the state Cabinet of Health and Family Services outlining ways to prevent the spread of the infection.
According to the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria commonly carried on the skin or nose of a healthy person, but it can cause a skin infection in certain instances.
Most strains of staph are easily treatable with antibiotics, and the infection can be stopped by taking simple preventative measures, but increasingly, staph infections are being caused by a certain drug-resistant form of the bacteria.
That form, called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is what killed high school senior Ashton Bonds, 17, of Bedford, Va.
Bonds attended Staunton River High School, and Virginia officials shut down 21 schools Wednesday for cleaning.
Schools in Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio and Michigan have reported cases, CNN reported.
MRSA is treatable with certain drugs, but the treatment time may last longer and be more expensive.
Staph infections, including the serious MRSA strain, have spread through schools recently.
Brenda Hammons, the assistant superintendent of Corbin schools, said the district takes every precaution to help prevent the spread of staph infection.
“We are vigilant about keeping our buildings clean,” Hammons said.
Hammons said teachers keep antibacterial wipes with them to wipe tables clean, and good hygiene like hand washing is encouraged.
Hammons said schools see several cases of staph infection throughout the year, but currently there are no cases of MRSA in the system.
“We’re just making sure we’re following all the protocols we need to,” Hammons said.
Hammons said if a student is discovered to have staph infection, that student is immediately sent to a physician and the area he or she occupied is thoroughly cleaned.
Staph infection can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or sharing an item used by an infected person, especially one with an open wound.
Many infections are spread in gyms and locker rooms where athletes and classmates share equipment.
Many marks caused by staph infection are mistaken for bug bites, and the marks are often red, swollen, painful and draining.
The spread of the infection can be prevented by covering marks with dry bandages, by not sharing items with those infected, and by thoroughly cleaning items used by an infected person, including utensils, towels and clothes.
For more information about staph infection, including the MRSA strain, visit the Department of Public Health website at http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/MRSA.htm or contact your local health department.
- http://www.thetimestribune.com/local/local_story_292094314.html
_
See also:
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received inquiries about infections with antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) among persons who have no apparent contact with the healthcare system. This fact sheet addresses some of the most frequently asked questions."