School district reports confirmed case of MRSA at Riverhead High School

There has been a confirmed case of MRSA at Riverhead High School, the Riverhead Central School District has announced.

MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics.

“The district will be taking necessary precautions to ensure the health and well-being of the students and staff of Riverhead High School,” the district said in a statement posted on its website Nov. 12. “Meanwhile, remember that careful hand washing is the single most effective way to control the spread of communicable diseases, including MRSA.”

MRSA is spread through direct contact with an infected wound or by sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that have touched infected skin, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MRSA infection risk can be increased when a person is in certain activities or places that involve crowding, skin-to-skin contact, and shared equipment or supplies.

In general, staph is actually a very common bacteria. According to the CDC, about one in three people carry staph in their nose, usually without any illness. MRSA is less common: Two in 100 people carry MRSA.

Symptoms of MRSA

Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that might be Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that might be red, swollen, painful, warm to the touch, and full of pus or other drainage, according to the CDC. It might be accompanied by a fever.

“If you or someone in your family experiences these signs and symptoms, cover the area with a bandage, wash your hands, and contact your doctor. It is especially important to contact your doctor if signs and symptoms of an MRSA skin infection are accompanied by a fever,” the CDC advises.

CDC-recommended actions

The CDC advises schools where MRSA infection is confirmed to clean all surfaces are likely to contact uncovered or poorly covered infections. Detergent-based cleaners or registered disinfectants will do the job. Cleaning should focus on surfaces that touch people’s bare skin each day and any surfaces that could come into contact with uncovered infections — for example, surfaces such as benches in a weight room or locker room, and shared equipment that comes into direct skin contact, according to the CDC. These should be cleaned after each use and allowed to dry. Large surfaces such as floors and walls have not been directly associated in the spread of staph and MRSA, the CDC says on its website.

It is not necessary to close down schools in response to a confirmed case of MRSA, the CDC says.

Prevention

There are the personal hygiene steps you can take to reduce your risk of MRSA infection:
Maintain good hand and body hygiene. Wash hands often, and clean body regularly, especially after exercise.
Keep cuts, scrapes, and wounds clean and covered until healed.
Avoid sharing personal items such as towels and razors.
Get care early if you think you might have an infection.

Top photo caption: Magnified 20,000X, this colorized scanning electron micrograph depicts a grouping of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
(Photo: Public Health Image Library)