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Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA has emerged as a serious
threat in
the community. Until recently, MRSA was seen almost
exclusively in
hospitalized patients. Because we are now seeing it in the
community,
especially in pockets such as groups of athletes, children
in childcare
settings and crowding situations such as prisons and jails,
the Georgia
Division of Public Health is working to educate the public
to prevent
this threatening infection.
MRSA is caused by a bacterium, often called Staph. Staph is
one of the
most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. and is
usually found
on the skin or in the noses of healthy people. MRSA is a
type of Staph
germ that is hard to treat with some commonly used
antibiotic medicines.
It has gradually developed a resistance to certain
antibiotics that previously were effective in killing the
germ.
An infection can look like sores that look and feel like
spider bites
or pimples. It can be characterized as large, red, painful
bumps under
the skin (boils); and symptoms may include redness, warmth,
swelling,
pus, skin tenderness or blisters. It can advance into
abscesses or
serious skin infections and, if untreated, MRSA can infect
blood and
bones.
Please call your health care provider or take your child to
the
hospital if your child develops any of the aforementioned
symptoms. A
sample of the infected wound must be confirmed by a lab test
called a
culture. The culture grows the bacteria and the lab can test
to see
which antibiotics will be effective for treating the
infection.
Preventing The Spread of MRSA:
1. Hand washing is #1 prevention.
2. Keep cuts, lesions, and wounds covered with clean
bandages such as a
band-aid.
3. Do not share personal items such as towels, wash cloths,
razors,
antiperspirants, clothing, uniforms, or other items that may
not be
clean.
4. Wash soiled clothing, linens, and towels (especially for
students
with athletic or gym teams) in hot water and laundry
detergent. Dry
clothes in hot dryer.
5. Avoid participating in contact sports or other
skin-to-skin contact
if any open or uncovered cuts or wounds.
In Cobb County Schools we encourage extra hand washing for
all students
and staff and will disinfect any hard surfaces in the school
with the
county approved disinfectant as needed in confirmed cases.
For additional information on Community Acquired MRSA, click
on this
link:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools
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