Staph infection / MRSA information

  • Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a bacteria that is commonly found on the skin and in the nose of 20-30 percent of healthy individuals. This bacteria often causes skin infections; it also can cause other, more serious infections, such as pneumonia or bloodstream infections.

     

    MRSA (sometimes verbally referred to as “mersa”) is a strain of the common bacteria, S. aureus, that is resistant to methicillin, an antibiotic in the same class as penicillin. The letters stand for Methicillin-Resistent Staphylococcus aureus.A skin infection with MRSA can begin as a reddened area on the skin, or resemble a pimple that can develop into a skin abscess or boil causing fever, pus, swelling or pain.

     

    There are no current clusters or outbreaks in Eudora Schools, nor is there a record of any past clusters or outbreaks in our district. Working closely with the Douglas County Health Department, the district also has a maintenance program in place to ensure all necessary cleaning is done to provide a safe and supportive learning environment.

    • Health department experts agree that schools do not need to be closed for special cleaning: there is not much opportunity for transmission in the general school population.
    • Right now, our district is doing the following:
      - Information about Staph/MRSA prevention provided to parents and students on our Web site.
      - Principals and EMS and EHS athletic directors provided Staph/MRSA facts and steps to prevent outbreaks
      - Schools are cleaned regularly with a broad-spectrum micro-organism-killing solution.
    • Officials from Eudora Schools work routinely with the Douglas County Health Department to monitor illnesses to look for trends and determine when specific local responses to significant increases in illness are required.

     

    What can I do to help prevent an infection?
    Parents, students and district employees can help by encouraging and practicing proper hygiene, especially:

    • Washing hands and body thoroughly and regularly with soap and water.
    • Keeping clothes clean.
    • Washing cuts and scrapes and keep them covered with bandages.

     

    For more information about staph infections or MRSA, you are encouraged to contact your family’s physician or the Douglas County Health Department.