MRSA in Schools

MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. Generally MRSA causes skin infections that often are red, swollen and painful areas often occurring at sites of cuts and abrasions and areas covered by body hair. Most MRSA infections can be treated, but infection can be more serious with infection of bone, bloodstream and other organs. This is not a new type of threat, but more cases have been found in the general population. It is spread usually by direct skin to skin contact or contact with surfaces that have come into contact with someone that is infected and has touched surfaces and spread the disease. Good hygiene is essential in prevention along with the use of good cleaning products on exposed surfaces like tables, chairs, desks etc.

Schools need to encourage effective hand washing and provide soap and paper towels. Schools should encourage had washing before lunch and after lunch and if tables are used for more than one lunch session they should be cleaned at the end of each lunch period. They should routinely clean commonly used areas and frequently touched surfaces. This should be a regular routine to prevent many diseases from spreading. It is not normally necessary to close a school if a MRSA infection is discovered, but a thorough cleaning should be done. Schools may want to review their emergency plans to be certain effective plans are in place for a possible MRSA infection and for any other disease outbreak. In some cases the closing of a school is done simply to make the cleaning process more efficient so that the entire facility can be properly cleaned completely one time before being used again. The cleaning staff needs to be properly trained so they do not contaminate areas they have just cleaned. In some cases the school may need extra staff to accomplish this big job. In some cases this might be accomplished over a weekend. It is not normally necessary for a student that has a MRSA infection to be excluded from school, but the wounds should be covered and the student should not participate in activities that have skin to skin contact.

The school nurse should be a source of additional information for teachers, staff, and administrators about the proper method of dealing with MRSA at school. In some school districts plans may have been developed at the county level. Schools may be required to inform all parents of children at the school about any MRSA infection, but this should be carefully worded to prevent the spread of inaccurate information and to inform them of the plans being implemented at the school to solve the problem. In recent years schools have had to face many challenges with respect to a variety of threats. Most school districts have mandatory training for all staff members on "blood born pathogens" and could easily add information about other potential risks and solutions. Proper planning can help alleviate the fears of students, parents, and staff.