One case of MRSA reported; student urged to wash hands

"The best protection you can take to avoid MRSA is what your grandmother taught you - wash your hands," stated Ernie Doss, director of the Lincoln County Department of Public Safety. "Washing your hands with soap and water several times a day is crucial, especially if you've been out in large groups of people."

As reported in the local and national news, cases of MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) are on the rise.

According to Brenda Goolsby, an RN at the Lincoln County Health Department, there has been one confirmed case of MRSA in the Lincoln County School System.

The child has since been treated and is back at school.

In response to the incident, Brian Campbell, an assistant Lincoln County school superintendent, sent a letter, dated Friday, November 2, to the parents or guardians of all local school students concerning the disease.

He wrote: "The school followed cleaning guidelines provided by the Georgia Department of Health once the MRSA case was confirmed...

"In an effort to ensure a safe school environment for students and faculty, the following actions will be taken by school staff when an MRSA case is confirmed:

.. Desks and other items that may have come into contact with infectious drainage will be immediately sanitized.

.. Notification will be made to students and parents regarding students who may have had direct contact with the infected individual."

In order to prevent the spread of MRSA, Campbell recommended that students, parents, and school staff adhere to the common infection control measures listed below:

.. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. (Students may also bring alcohol-based hand sanitizer to school.)

.. Do not share personal care items such as soap and towels or uniforms and sports equipment that directly touch your body.

.. Take home practice clothes, towels, and other linens on a daily basis for cleaning.

.. Students should shower immediately after sports practice, competition or training.

.. Keep all wounds clean and covered and avoid contact with the open wounds of others or items possibly contaminated by infection.

"As an added precaution, coaches and physical education teachers are taking appropriate actions to ensure a clean environment for athletes and students in physical education classes," Campbell stated. "Also, school nurses are readily available to provide guidance to students and faculty regarding any MRSA concerns."

Additional tips for preventing the spread of the disease include:

.. Wash practice clothes, uniforms, and other sports-related linens in hot water and laundry detergent. Using a hot dryer, rather than air drying, also helps kill bacteria.

.. Wipe down athletic equipment and materials and gym surfaces with sanitizer, when possible. Athletic facilities provide the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, as they can be warm and humid.

.. Avoid participating in contact sports or other skin-to-skin contact if there is an open wound.

.. Do not get in a shared whirlpool, common tub or swimming pool.

In his comments, Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools, said, "There is no need to panic. If students and teachers take precautions, we shouldn't have a problem."

MRSA is a strain of staph. Commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people, staph is one of the most prevalent causes of skin infections in the United States. However, most of these skin infections are minor, such as pimples and boils, and can be treated without antibiotics. MRSA, on the other hand, is a type of staph that is resistant to the penicillin category of antibiotics. Due to its resistance to these medications, the disease can be hard to treat and can lead to life-threatening blood or bone infections.

MRSA bacteria are almost always transmitted by direct, physical contact with drainage from an infected lesion or sore; it is likewise transmitted by touching objects such as sheets, towels, sports, and workout equipment that have MRSA germs on them. These germs live on the skin and survive on objects and surfaces for more than 24 hours. The disease is not spread through the air.

MRSA often begins as a minor skin irritation or sore (boils, blisters, rashes, pimples or ingrown hairs) that quickly develops into an abscess surrounded by inflammation. Symptoms may include redness, warmth at the site, swelling, pus, tenderness, and drainage.

Also, unexplained fever, muscular pain, and/or fatigue, especially in the months following a skin infection, could signal the presence of MRSA.

Often, MRSA is diagnosed as a spider bite

Anyone who suspects he has this disease should see a healthcare provider immediately. If there is an active MRSA infection present, the doctor may drain the infection, prescribe antibiotics, and/or take steps to reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin.

First identified in the 1960s, MRSA was mainly found in hospitals and nursing homes because antibiotics were being given to people when they were not needed, and patients were not taking antibiotics as directed. Then, in the late 1990s, a new strain of MRSA was identified. This strain is becoming more common among children and adults who do not have medical problems.

For more information about MRSA, contact your healthcare provider or the Lincoln County Health Department.