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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Schools
The following article is from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov, regarding Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
MRSA infections are skin infections that may appear as pustules or
boils which often are red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other
drainage. These skin infections commonly occur at sites of visible skin trauma,
such as cuts and abrasions, and areas of the body covered by hair (e.g., back
of neck, groin, buttock, armpit, beard area of men).
Almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated by drainage of pus with or without antibiotics. More serious infections, such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or bone infections, are very rare in healthy people who get MRSA skin infections.
How is MRSA transmitted? MRSA is usually transmitted by direct
skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that have come
into contact with someone else’s infection (e.g., towels, used bandages).
In what settings do MRSA skin infections occur? MRSA skin infections
can occur anywhere.
Some settings have factors that make it easier for MRSA to be
transmitted. These factors, referred to as the 5 C’s,
are as follows: Crowding, frequent skin-to-skin
Contact, Compromised skin (i.e., cuts or
abrasions), Contaminated items and surfaces, and lack of
Cleanliness. Locations where the 5 C’s are
common include schools, dormitories, military barracks, households,
correctional facilities, and daycare centers.
How do I protect myself from getting MRSA? Practicing good hygiene
(e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer and showering immediately after participating in
exercise); covering skin trauma such as abrasions or cuts with a clean, dry
bandage until healed, avoiding sharing personal items (e.g., towels, razors)
that come into contact with your bare skin; using a barrier (e.g., clothing or
a towel) between your skin and shared equipment such as weight-training
benches; and maintaining a clean environment by establishing cleaning
procedures for frequently touched surfaces and surfaces that come into direct
contact with people’s skin.
Should schools close because of an MRSA infection? The decision to
close a school for any communicable disease should be made by school officials
in consultation with local and/or state public health officials. However, in
most cases, it is not necessary to close schools because of an MRSA infection
in a student. It is important to note that MRSA transmission can be prevented
by simple measures such as hand hygiene and covering infections.
Should the school be closed to be cleaned or disinfected when an MRSA infection
occurs? Covering infections will greatly reduce the risks of surfaces
becoming contaminated with MRSA. In general it is not necessary to close
schools to “disinfect” them when MRSA infections occur. MRSA skin infections
are transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact and contact with surfaces
that have come into contact with someone else’s infection.
When MRSA skin infections occur, cleaning and disinfection should be performed on surfaces that are likely to contact uncovered or poorly covered infections. Cleaning surfaces with detergent-based cleaners or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered disinfectants is effective in removing MRSA from the environment. It is important to read the instruction labels on all cleaners to make sure they are used safely and appropriately. Environmental cleaners and disinfectants should not be used to treat infections. The EPA provides a list of EPA-registered products effective against MRSA: epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm
Should the entire school community be notified of every MRSA
infection? Usually it should not be necessary to inform the entire
school community about a single MRSA infection. When an MRSA infection occurs
within the school population, the school nurse and school physician should
determine, based on their medical judgment, whether some or all students,
parents, and staff should be notified. Consultation with the local public
health authorities should be used to guide this decision.
Remember that staphylococcus (staph) bacteria, including MRSA, have been and remain a common cause of skin infections.
Should the school be notified that my child has an MRSA infection? If
your child has, or you suspect your child may have, an MRSA infection, please
contact Sandy Goliber, our School Nurse, at 265-4642, ext. 415.
Should students with MRSA skin infections be excluded from attending
school? Unless directed by a physician, students with MRSA infections
should not be excluded from attending school. Exclusion from school should be
reserved for those with wound drainage (“pus”) that cannot be covered and
contained with a clean, dry bandage and for those who cannot maintain good
personal hygiene. Students with active infections should be excluded from
activities where skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur (e.g., sports) until
their infections are healed.
I have an MRSA skin infection. How do I prevent spreading it to
others? Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus
covered with clean, dry bandages until healed. Follow your healthcare
provider’s instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds
can contain staph, including MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will help
prevent the spread to others. Bandages and tape can be discarded with the
regular trash. Clean your hands frequently. You, your family, and others in
close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching
the infected wound. Do not share personal items, such as towels, washcloths,
razors, clothing, or uniforms that may have had contact with the infected wound
or bandage. Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water and
laundry detergent. Use a dryer to dry clothes completely.
We are passing this information along to you to hopefully alleviate some of
your concerns regarding MRSA while providing you with accurate and helpful
advice on what to look for and how to properly treat MRSA. Please take this
opportunity to reinforce the importance of good hygiene with your children. If
you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sandy Goliber, our School
Nurse, at 265-4642, extension 415.
How Parents Can Help Improve Bus Stop Safety
Please have your child ready and at the bus stop at least
five minutes early.
If your child’s not riding that day, a courtesy call is very much
appreciated!
Provide your child with a backpack to keep school items safely inside and
reduce the chance of something dropping near or under the bus.
Check your child’s clothing for long drawstrings or other dangerous items that
could get snagged in the bus door or in playground equipment. Long drawstrings
are very dangerous.
Provide brightly colored outerwear for your children whenever possible.
Brightly colored jackets and jackets with reflective tape make the children
more visible in low-light conditions.
Insist on safe behavior at the bus stop – Children should wait in an orderly
fashion, safely back from the roadway. They shouldn’t move toward the bus until
it’s come to a full stop and the driver signals it’s safe.
Reinforce safe loading and unloading behaviors – remind your child to wait for
the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street.
Reinforce safe ridership – remind your child to not distract the bus driver.
Driver distraction could cause an accident.
Student Responsibilities At Bus Stops
Arrive 5 minutes early in the morning and wait in an orderly fashion, safely back from the road at your designated stop.
Wear safe clothes – avoid long drawstrings or other clothing that could get
snagged in the bus door. Bright clothing makes you more visible to
motorists.
As your bus approaches, do not move toward it until it’s completely stopped and
your driver signals you.
If you’re late, never chase after your bus – it’s very dangerous – go back home
and ask an adult to help you get to school.
Keep all possessions inside your backpack while on the bus.
Stay in your seat until the bus is stopped at school or your bus stop.
“Check before you step” off your bus (for vehicles passing on the right
side).
If you don’t have to cross, move away from the roadway and wait until your bus
has left the area, and then go directly home. If you must cross, go far enough
in from of the bus to see your driver’s face.
Wait for the bus driver’s “universal crossing signal” before starting
across.
If you’re crossing with other students, stay together – don’t straggle
across.
If your parents let you get the mail, wait until your bus has left the area and
you can see traffic in both directions.
If your parent or a friend is across the street waiting for you, pay attention
to your driver until you’re safely across.
Older children should hold younger children’s hands if they are crossing
together.
Before entering the unprotected part of the roadway, pause and look carefully
left, right, and left again, and listen carefully for approaching cars.
If your bus driver honks the horn while you’re crossing, return to the side of
the road you started from at once!
My Rules For Online Safety
- I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
- I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
- I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
- I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
- I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.
- I will talk with my parent so that we can set up rules for going online.
We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time
I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access
other areas or break these rules without their permission.