Genesee County Health Department 630 S. Saginaw Street Flint , Michigan 48502 www.gchd.us MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccus Aureus ) What is Staphylococcus aureus or "Staph"? • It is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people without causing infection. Sometimes, it may cause skin infections that look like pimples or boils that can be treated with antibiotics. Some Staph (known as MRSA) is resistant to certain antibiotics, making it harder to treat. What are the symptoms of staph and MRSA that could occur? • Skin infections that may look like a pimple or boil, and can be red, swollen, painful, and have drainage • More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections How is it spread? • By direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a staph infection • Direct skin contact with items and surfaces that have staph on them How is it diagnosed and treated? • Primary care provider evaluation and laboratory testing • Treatment is antibiotics • Having doctor drain the infection Can it be prevented? • Wash your hands often • Do not share personal items • Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a clean and dry bandage until healed • Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages • Practice good hygiene Should the sick child be isolated? • No When can the child return to day care or school? • Provide documentation from primary care provider. Should schools do special cleaning? • Special cleaning is not necessary. Routine cleaning with EPA approved products is recommended If I have any other questions, whom can I contact? • Call the Genesee County Health Department at 257-3612 This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. For more information, call your health care provider. 10/07 www.e;chd.us Floyd J. McCree Courts & Human Services Building 630 S. Saginaw Street Flint , Michigan 48502.1540 Phone 810.257.3612 Fax 810.257.3147 Community Health Phone 810.257.3612 Fax 810.257.3147 Environmental Health Phone 810.257.3603 Fax 810.257.3125 Personal Health Phone 810.257.3132 Fax 810.237-6162 Burton Branch G-3373 S. Saginaw St. Burton , Michigan 48529 Phone 810.742-2255 Fax 810.742.2561 McCree North Health Center 115 E. Pierson Rd. Flint , Michigan 48505 Phone 810.600-2400 Fax 810.785.9675 Genesee County Health Department Robert M. Pestronk, M.P.H., Health Officer Gary K. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Director October 19, 2007 Dear School Administrators, Recent reports on the prevalence of MRSA, and recent unfortunate student deaths associated with MRSA in the United States have prompted much telephone activity and many questions. Staphylococcus aureus or "staph" is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people without causing infection. Sometimes it may cause skin infections that look like pimples or boils that can be treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria can cause serious infections and require treatment with antibiotics. Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph that is resistant to certain antibiotics which may make serious infections more difficult to treat. Staph, including MRSA are spread by direct skin-to-skin contact, such as shaking hands, wrestling, or other direct contact with the skin of another person. Staph are also spread by contact with items that have been touched by people with staph, like towels or shared athletic equipment in the gym or on the field. Staph infections in schools can be prevented by hand washing and not sharing personal items. (see attached MRSA fact sheet for more information) If a student or staff member is reported to have MRSA in your school, consider taking the following steps: . Confirm the diagnosis through a physician . Return to school upon physician approval and as long as any infected wounds are covered . Follow routine infection control precautions and procedures for cleaning the environment If a student or staff member presents with an undiagnosed rash, he or she should be sent home until seen by a primary care physician. Please find enclosed additional information regarding staph and MRSA. If you have additional questions or concerns, please call me at (810) 257-3155 or contact School Health Services at (810) 257-3619. ~~:e~: ~,J::son, MD, MPHAW;MfH Medical Director Better Life Through Better Health |
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