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MRSA
Bacteria Outbreaks Are Preventable
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School Health is aware
of the recent tragedies involving the spread of MRSA, and is taking action
to deliver information and prepare schools and communities for future
situations that can occur. Preparedness is the responsibility of every
school, community, and state, and it is absolutely necessary to follow
guidelines provided by health officials and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. At School Health, we offer tips, articles, and products
that can better support your school and community in the fight against
MRSA.
View our complete list of products that kill MRSA here.
Click here for MRSA resourceful links.
About MRSA
Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) caused more than 94,000 life-threatening
infections and nearly 19,000 deaths in the United States in 2005, according
to experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Recently, MRSA has threatened and taken the lives of several high-school
students in the United States, with most of the outbreaks taking place
within health care settings. The majority of MRSA infections occur among
patients in hospitals or other healthcare settings; however, it is becoming
more common in the community setting.
While staph bacteria are common causes of skin infection, pneumonia, surgical
wound infections, and bloodstream infections, it is bacteria like MRSA
that are resistant to antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin.
The increasing frequency of resistance to antibiotics among infectious
organisms is generating serious concern over the possibility of transmission
of MRSA to the general public. If MRSA becomes the leading form of staph
bacteria in the community setting, treatment of more common infections
will increase in difficulty.
Prevention
The CDC has, therefore, provided a list of preventative actions which
can be used to avoid contracting MRSA. First, always keep wounds that
are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages. Infected wounds
can contain staph or MRSA and easily spread to others. Second, it is important
to consistently wash your hands. Germs are commonly spread from person
to person contact, so washing with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer can minimize chance of spreading. Third, the CDC recommends
that personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms
that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage not be shared
with others. In schools, preventative measures are being taken by sterilizing
hallways, classrooms and seating areas that may become contagious.
Resourceful Links:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/aip/research/mrsa.html#mrsa_prevention
- CDC, For Additional MRSA Prevention
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/mrsa-superbug/
- MRSA/ Drug Resistance News
http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=460 - NASN, MRSA Reports
MRSA
in the News:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools/
- CDC, MRSA in the Schools Article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601392_pf.html
- Washington Post Article
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/drug-resistant-staph-what-you-need-to-know/index.html?hp
- New York Times Article
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/wednesday/chi-mrsa17oct17,0,6985114.story
- Chicago Tribune Article
Educational Tips Regarding MRSA:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/aip/research/mrsa.html#mrsa_prevention
- Additional MRSA Preventions
http://www.webmd.com/news/20070528/mrsa-rising-whos-at-risk
- Who's At Risk?
School Nurse Resources
http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=460
- NASN MRSA Articles
http://schoolnurse.com/med_info/staphinfectionsantibiotics.html
- MRSA Related Articles
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