Local Schools Work To Prevent MRSA Outbreaks
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
"We're being very pro-active," Warsaw Community Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sandra Weaver said Monday morning.
MRSA is the dangerous drug-resistant staph "superbug." It has been found in jails and schools, and left untreated, severe cases have been known to cause death. Staph infections and MRSA have been around for years, but are back in the news because of recent student deaths attributed to MRSA.
A letter is being sent out today to all parents and staff about the steps Warsaw Schools is taking to prevent the bacteria.[[In-content Ad]]Weaver said Warsaw Schools does not have a problem with the bacteria.
The letter lists the type of infections MRSA causes, how to protect children from getting MRSA, and protecting children from MRSA in sports settings.
It also states, "We consult with Dr. Remington, the county health officer, to ensure our procedures are in line with the needed standards to keep students and staff safe. Our goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for learning."
Weaver said school nurses, building custodians, principals, Director of Buildings and Maintenance Greg Schroeder and herself met last week to discuss their concerns with the bacteria, who is at risk and what cleaning agents Warsaw Schools uses. Weaver said Warsaw uses cleaning agents with a rating to kill MRSA.
Schroeder this week also will review cleaning procedures with the custodial staff, including the best ways to clean desk surfaces, wrestling mats and other items students and staff may come into contact with at school.
According to a recent Associated Press story, the bacteria was blamed for the death of a 17-year-old Virginia high school senior and a 12-year-old New York City middle school student this month.
At least seven students on New York's Long Island were recently diagnosed with MRSA, as were 10 members of an athletic team at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. However, a government report has estimated it may sicken more than 90,000 Americans each year.
Health-care specialists have targeted jails and schools as particularly susceptible to the spread of MRSA because of the daily person-to-person contact, according to another Associated Press story.
MRSA has mutated over several decades because of overuse of antibiotics, morphing into a drug-resistant 'superbug.'
Debbie Potter, head school nurse for Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., said that in the past, Valley has had staph infections, but "it really is a common thing." As a nurse, she's known about staph infections for years. However, with staph infections being in the news lately, she said it is making people aware of what they need to do to protect themselves.
Potter, Assistant Superintendent Brett Boggs said Monday afternoon, has put information out to the entire Valley School Corp. staff. Since there is a concern about staph in the lockerrooms and weight rooms, Boggs said Potter and Athletic Director Duane Burkhart have also provided information to the coaching staff.
Boggs said he and Potter have had a long discussion on the issue, and information on MRSA and staph infections likely will be included in the next Valley newsletter. He said it's important to make sure everyone has accurate information.
"I feel at this point, we are on top of it," said Boggs.
In the last two to three weeks, a couple of Manchester Schools football players had staph infections, but they were not MSRA, according to head nurse M.A. Hire. She said it's not an epidemic and not a concern. "It was just an episode that happened," she said.
Since then, Hire said they have reviewed what caused the infections, adjusted some cleaning schedules and reviewed their cleaning products. Materials on the infections were sent to the parents.
Ever since she's been at Manchester, Hire said she has always pushed good personal hygiene to prevent germs, not just against staph infections.
Wawasee is promoting diligent hand washing, according to nurse Myra Alexander. She said they are working with coaches and athletic staff to educate them on the infection.
Infections caused by MRSA include skin infections such as pimples, rashes, impetigo or boils; bloodstream or bone; and pneumonia. Bone and pneumonia are rare.
To protect a child from getting MRSA, practice good hygiene, cover cuts and abrasions with a clean dry bandage until healed, avoid sharing personal items, use a towel on shared exercise equipment, maintain a clean environment by establishing cleaning procedures and consult your physician for suspicious skin infections.
In sports settings, cover all wounds; shower with soap after all practices and competitions; discourage sharing of towels and personal items; and establish routine cleaning procedures.
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"We're being very pro-active," Warsaw Community Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sandra Weaver said Monday morning.
MRSA is the dangerous drug-resistant staph "superbug." It has been found in jails and schools, and left untreated, severe cases have been known to cause death. Staph infections and MRSA have been around for years, but are back in the news because of recent student deaths attributed to MRSA.
A letter is being sent out today to all parents and staff about the steps Warsaw Schools is taking to prevent the bacteria.[[In-content Ad]]Weaver said Warsaw Schools does not have a problem with the bacteria.
The letter lists the type of infections MRSA causes, how to protect children from getting MRSA, and protecting children from MRSA in sports settings.
It also states, "We consult with Dr. Remington, the county health officer, to ensure our procedures are in line with the needed standards to keep students and staff safe. Our goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for learning."
Weaver said school nurses, building custodians, principals, Director of Buildings and Maintenance Greg Schroeder and herself met last week to discuss their concerns with the bacteria, who is at risk and what cleaning agents Warsaw Schools uses. Weaver said Warsaw uses cleaning agents with a rating to kill MRSA.
Schroeder this week also will review cleaning procedures with the custodial staff, including the best ways to clean desk surfaces, wrestling mats and other items students and staff may come into contact with at school.
According to a recent Associated Press story, the bacteria was blamed for the death of a 17-year-old Virginia high school senior and a 12-year-old New York City middle school student this month.
At least seven students on New York's Long Island were recently diagnosed with MRSA, as were 10 members of an athletic team at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. However, a government report has estimated it may sicken more than 90,000 Americans each year.
Health-care specialists have targeted jails and schools as particularly susceptible to the spread of MRSA because of the daily person-to-person contact, according to another Associated Press story.
MRSA has mutated over several decades because of overuse of antibiotics, morphing into a drug-resistant 'superbug.'
Debbie Potter, head school nurse for Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., said that in the past, Valley has had staph infections, but "it really is a common thing." As a nurse, she's known about staph infections for years. However, with staph infections being in the news lately, she said it is making people aware of what they need to do to protect themselves.
Potter, Assistant Superintendent Brett Boggs said Monday afternoon, has put information out to the entire Valley School Corp. staff. Since there is a concern about staph in the lockerrooms and weight rooms, Boggs said Potter and Athletic Director Duane Burkhart have also provided information to the coaching staff.
Boggs said he and Potter have had a long discussion on the issue, and information on MRSA and staph infections likely will be included in the next Valley newsletter. He said it's important to make sure everyone has accurate information.
"I feel at this point, we are on top of it," said Boggs.
In the last two to three weeks, a couple of Manchester Schools football players had staph infections, but they were not MSRA, according to head nurse M.A. Hire. She said it's not an epidemic and not a concern. "It was just an episode that happened," she said.
Since then, Hire said they have reviewed what caused the infections, adjusted some cleaning schedules and reviewed their cleaning products. Materials on the infections were sent to the parents.
Ever since she's been at Manchester, Hire said she has always pushed good personal hygiene to prevent germs, not just against staph infections.
Wawasee is promoting diligent hand washing, according to nurse Myra Alexander. She said they are working with coaches and athletic staff to educate them on the infection.
Infections caused by MRSA include skin infections such as pimples, rashes, impetigo or boils; bloodstream or bone; and pneumonia. Bone and pneumonia are rare.
To protect a child from getting MRSA, practice good hygiene, cover cuts and abrasions with a clean dry bandage until healed, avoid sharing personal items, use a towel on shared exercise equipment, maintain a clean environment by establishing cleaning procedures and consult your physician for suspicious skin infections.
In sports settings, cover all wounds; shower with soap after all practices and competitions; discourage sharing of towels and personal items; and establish routine cleaning procedures.
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