What to do about MRSA In Schools

Today I received a pamplet from our school about MRSA and what to do to prevent it!  Probably no one had heard of MRSA until a few weeks ago when it was all over the news, a young man died of it.  I just thought this information needed to be shared - It could save lives!  The information came from Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department - Antibiotic Resistance Task Force.

What is MRSA?  (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

Type of "Staph" infection

• Often causes skin infection
• Resistant to many antibiotics, including penicillin

What does it look like?

• A "spider bite"
• Turf burn
• Abscess
• Boil
• Impetigo
• Infected skin / wound

How do you get MRSA?

• Touching someone's MRSA - infected skin
• Touching surfaces that have MRSA on them, like doorknobs, light switches and keyboards
• Sharing sports equipment
• Sharing personal hygiene items (bar soap, towels)
• Not having the resources to keep clean
• Overusing antibiotics, also stopping them early, or missing does

How is MRSA treated?

• By a healthcare provided who may:
• Drain the infection and / or
• Give an antibiotic and / or
• Help reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin.

Stop the spread of MRSA!

• WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN with warm, soapy water
• Use 60% alcohol-based hand gell when soap and water are not available
• Shower immediately after physical education class
• Do not share personal hygiene items (bar soap, towels, razors) or clothing
• Avoid contact with other people's skin infections
• Cover all wounds with a clean, dray bandage taped on all four sides
• Consider staying home from school if wound drainage cannot be contained by a bandage
• Report skin infections to the school nurse
• Wipe down shared desk, keyboards, phones and light switches regularly
• Do not take antibiotics when you do not need them

WASH YOUR HANDS!!!