Staphylococcus aureus (Staph)
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA)
Questions and Answers
Q: What is a Staphylococcus aureus (Staph)?
A: Staph is a type of
bacteria that may cause skin infections that look like pimples or boils. Skin infections caused by Staph may be red,
swollen, painful or have pus or other drainage.
Q: What is MRSA?
A: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
aureas (MRSA) is a kind of Staph infection—usually on skin—caused by a type of
bacteria that does not respond to certain antibiotics, making it harder to
treat.
Q: How are Staph and MRSA spread?
A: *by direct contact with an infected area
*by contact with contaminated items or surfaces (such as clothes, towels,
blankets, bar soap, razors, lotions, athletic equipment)
Q: What are the symptoms of MRSA?
A: MRSA can begin as a
red area on skin (or look like pimple) that can develop into a boil or
abscess. It can have pus, cause fever,
swelling and pain. It is often mistaken
for a spider bite.
Q: Is
FCPS concerned about MRSA?
A: Because
MRSA has been found in schools in several states including some Maryland school
districts, FCPS has briefed principals, athletic directors and custodians on
this topic, and in consultation with the Frederick County Health Department,
has posted announcements for the public on FCPS TV 18 and www.fcps.org.
Q: What
steps can help prevent MRSA in the school setting?
A: Preventing
MRSA requires the combined efforts and cooperation of students, athletic
directors, school principals, coaches, custodians, healthcare staff, parents
and other school personnel. All must
work together to do their part to keep themselves and the environment clean.
Q: Why is cleanliness key to preventing
MRSA?
A: Careful cleaning of schools,
especially bathrooms, locker and athletic areas, with an effective cleaning
agent helps prevent the spread of this potentially serious disease. FCPS has
advised custodians to:
*Clean carefully (with special attention to bathrooms, locker and athletic areas), according to established routine schedule. Schools are regularly cleaned with a broad-spectrum, micro-organism-killing solution that is effective against Staph aureus, including MRSA
*Use only products approved for use in FCPS
*Carefully follow instructions on product to ensure
cleansers are used appropriately and will have desired effect
*Ensure that all soap dispensers/paper towel holders/hand sanitizer dispensers have adequate supplies at all times
*Seek advice from lead custodian for questions and
concerns about cleaning in your building
Q: What
can students do to help prevent MRSA?
A: *Use
soap to shower as soon as reasonably possible after games or practice or PE
classes in which there has been direct contact with others
* Wash uniforms/gym clothing after use according to
label instructions
*Wipe protective equipment such as pads with a
disinfectant or cleaner after use
*Place barriers such as clothing or towels between
skin and shared equipment
*Wear shirts/shorts as barriers between skin and
hard surfaces such as benches or exercise seats
*Report suspicious skin lesions promptly to your parent, the coach, school nurse, administrator and see a healthcare provider. Prompt recognition and treatment can prevent severe infections.
*Keep non-draining, dry,
healed MRSA lesions covered at all times during play or practice
A:
*Encourage frequent good hand washing with soap and
water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer may
be used if soap and water are not available.
*Encourage the practice of good hygiene through frequent showers/baths.
*Wash all cuts and
scrapes at time they occur and 3 to 4 times daily until they are healed
*Be alert for signs of
infection
*If signs of infection
develop, seek advice/care of a healthcare provider
*Teach children not to
share personal items such as towels, washcloths, bar soap, clothes, uniforms,
etc.
A: *Encourage good hygiene, including
showering and washing with soap and water after all practices and competitions
*Discourage sharing of towels and personal items
such as clothing and equipment
*Encourage routine washing of uniforms/gym clothes
according to label instructions
*Establish routine cleaning schedules for shared
equipment
*Ensure that all coaches are trained in appropriate
first aid for wounds and recognition of wounds that are potentially infected
*Encourage students to report skin lesions to
parents, coaches or school nurses
*Ensure
that frequently touched contact areas on equipment are cleaned regularly.