Four schools in Polk County have reported cases of staph infections at their campuses, though none have been officially confirmed to be MRSA -- a type of staph infection that is sometimes drug resistant.
However, Polk School District Student Services Director Buddy Harrison said Tuesday that the system does have some "suspected cases of the MRSA." As it stands now, school district officials confirmed that three elementary schools -- Westside, Eastside and Northside -- and Cedartown High School have confirmed cases of students with staph infections. A letter to inform parents of the situation was issued Tuesday to all the schools in the county, according to Harrison.
Health officials report that Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA (pronounced Muhr-suh), has been around for decades but in recent years has spread to schools, prisons and crowded public housing projects. This community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) has become a visible threat to public health in some areas.
Harrison said in the letter issued to parents that proper precautions were being taken with any students who have been diagnosed. "The students are being treated in accordance with doctor instructions," the letter states. "Approved disinfectants that are effective against MRSA are being used to treat any surfaces that may have been exposed according to health department guidelines," the letter states. MRSA is a type of staph infection that does not respond or responds stubbornly to antibiotics. Only cases that result in severe injury and death are reported to public health officials. Polk County has had 15 cases of CA-MRSA reported since January 2007 and one case resulted in death, according to
Logan Boss, Public Information Officer for Northwest Georgia Public Health. Data documenting cases in October for Polk, has not yet been filed, he explained. "Many more go unreported to us," Boss said. Only the cases that require hospitalization or fall into a "strict case definition" have to be reported to authorities. "The single most important factor for preventing the spread is hand washing," Boss emphasized. Even healthy people can carry it on their skin. It may look like a pimple or spider bite that doesn't heal, but it can turn deadly if it enters the bloodstream or morphs into a flesh-eating wound. Those who already have a MRSA infection or who carry the bacteria on their bodies but do not have symptoms are the most common sources of transmission.
The Northwest Georgia Health District, which covers 10 counties including Polk, has seen seven deaths from 231 hospitalizations in three years. Early reports from government agencies say national numbers are moving toward 19,000 deaths. MRSA use to be only hospital setting, but is now occurring more and more in the community, Boss said. People in health care settings, like hospitals and nursing homes, are most at risk for MRSA infections. Doctors and nurses who treat staph-infected patients and then don't carefully wash up can spread the germ to other patients. Germ-contaminated medical devices used on people having dialysis or medical procedures also can spread staph.
For the general public, Polk County Health Department Nurse Manager Malindy Ely said that good handwashing and general cleanliness is key to keeping the MRSA germ -- and any other germ for that matter – at bay. "Everybody needs to practice good hand washing, especially schools and day cares. Table tops and chairs need to be wiped down and toys should be cleaned everyday to prevent spread."
Boss said the following steps will help to control the spread of staph bacteria: Observe your child for any sign of infected wounds, pimples, or boils. If you notice any signs of skin infection such as redness or drainage from a wound, pimple, or boil, take your child to the doctor. Cover any wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages. Follow your doctor's instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can contain staph, so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages or tape can be discarded with the regular trash. Those with draining wounds should stay at home until the doctor releases them to return to work or school. Clean your hands. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching the infected wound. Do not share personal items. Avoid sharing 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. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps to kill bacteria in clothes.
Talk to your doctor about the importance of taking antibiotics only when necessary and always take antibiotics exactly as the doctor orders for the full number of days ordered. Boss concluded, "If you have questions about your child's health, please contact your doctor. Contact your local county health department for general information about staph infections and antibiotic resistance."
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