Dateline: March 2, 2006

CISD issues warning about infections 

By Judy Thomas, RN, Clarendon ISD

Schools and communities across the nation are reporting increases in Community Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus; Clarendon is no exception. 

We have been warned for years about “super bugs;” well they are here.

In the past MRSA was confined to hospitals and long-term care facilities; but in the past twelve months, the Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (IDEAS) of the Texas Department of State Health Services has noted an increasing number of reports of MRSA from local and regional health departments, the public, physicians, and school districts. 

Clarendon ISD has had six students diagnosed with MRSA this year alone.  These students’ infections are all unique and have no common factor associated with them. Infections have been found in the adult population as well. Because of this, we feel it is important the community be educated to the facts.

Here is some background information. Staphylococcus aureus has long been recognized as a common cause of boils and soft-tissue infections as well as more serious conditions such as pneumonia or bloodstream infections.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), twenty-five to thirty percent of adults and children in the United States are “colonized” with Staphylococcus aureus—the bacteria are present but do not cause illness. Staphylococcus aureus (commonly called staph) colonies usually occur in the armpit, groin, genital area, or the inside of the nose. 

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, unlike a common Staphylococcus aureus infection, cannot be treated with inexpensive penicillins. Consequently, the treatment is often longer, more expensive, and more complicated, with frequent recurrence of infections. 

MRSA infections can be very serious requiring hospitalizations with IV antibiotics for weeks and even amputation of affected tissue. The fear is that the staph will become resistant to the few antibiotics that are effective.  The CDC recently reported the first two cases of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

This underscores the need for aggressive control and prevention measures for all antibiotic resistant organisms.

Most infections occur through direct physical contact of the staphylococci with a break in the skin (cut or scrape). Inanimate objects, such as clothing, bed linens, or furniture, may also be a source of infection when they become soiled with wound drainage and a non-infected person then comes into contact with the contaminated object. If there is no break in the skin, contact with infected persons or articles may result in colonization.

Some prevention strategies include:

• Hand washing is the single most important behavior in preventing infectious disease.

• Hands must be clean before you touch your eyes, mouth, nose or any cuts or scrapes.

• Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand cleaner frequently.

• Wash hands or use hand gel immediately if they come in contact with any body fluid on the playing field or at other places where hand-washing facilities are not available.

• Wash your hands after sneezing, blowing, or touching the nose, after using the toilet, before leaving the athletic area or hospital.

• Do not share towels, soap, or other personal care items.

• Shower with soap and water as soon as possible after direct contact sports

• Dry using a clean, dry towel; Do not share towels, even on the sidelines at game.

• Ointments or antibiotics must not be shared

The Clarendon ISD Policy on this matter states “Any draining wound will be considered a potential MRSA infection until proven otherwise, and students will not participate in contact sports until cleared by a physician. Notify parents and inform the physician of the possibility of MRSA.”

If you have an infection, you must take care of the wound at home by avoiding direct contact with others until the wound is no longer draining and now have been instructed by a physician to resume usual activities.

The wound must remain covered. The dressing must be changed at least twice a day or as directed by a physician or more frequently if drainage is apparent.

Soiled dressings may be disposed of in household trash.

The infected person must wash hands frequently, especially before and after changing band-aids, bandages, or wound dressings.

For more information, visit the following websites: www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/antibiotic_resistance/mrsa/athletics/departments/; www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/ARESIST/mrsa.htm; www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community/; or ww.ahrq.gov.