Staph Superbug Infecting Americans

Officials in Pinellas County, Florida are cautious about the recent cases of Methicillin-Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus, or MRSA, around the country, but warn the community not to overreact; MRSA infections can be treated and are preventable with proper handwashing techniques.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus, or MRSA, is a strain of staph bacteria that has become resistant to certain types of antibiotics. According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), a steady increase in cases of MRSA has led to tens of thousands of infections and deaths. Just as statistics have gone public, clusters of MRSA outbreaks in schools around the country have made news as well, prompting officials to create structured plans to combat such infections when they affect students in the school system.

Shelly Personette, a registered nurse with the Pinellas County Health Department in Clearwater, Florida, said that there is a statewide initiative in place to promote hand washing for everyone, and the Department of Health is also reminding doctors in the state about proper protocol for prescribing antibiotics. Over-prescribing antibiotics is one factor in creating what some are calling a "superbug." "The more they use antibiotics in unnecessary instances, the higher the chance of creating resistant bacteria." Personette said.

Individual cases of MRSA are not tracked. "We don't really track it because there is nothing that we would do for individual cases other than what a doctor would normally do to treat it." Personette said. Clusters, on the other hand, are reported to the state for review. Hospitals put patients in isolation who are known to have an active MRSA infection. "We have regional epidemiologists that are tracking labs and hospitals to see what's going on," Personette said.

Though the schools in Pinellas County have not had an outbreak of MRSA, neighboring Hillsborough County recently had a scare when seven students of Tampa's Durant High School became infected with the bacteria; four of them were players on the school's football team. School officials had the entire school sanitized with a bleach solution to kill any lingering bacteria.

School nurses in Pinellas County continuously monitor the health of the district's students and call the health department when anything suspicious arises. Personette says, "We are on the phone with school nurses almost daily, not just about this, but anything they may have going on in the school. There have been individual cases of wounds that could possibly be MRSA, but not any clusters."

Personette wants to point out that MRSA is treatable. There are some antibiotics that MRSA is resistant to, but antibiotics are available that will work. Chances of contracting MRSA or any other bacterial or viral infection can be reduced with proper hand washing. Always clean even small scratches or cuts with soap and water, and wash hands often, and especially before dressing wounds.

Like most infections, small children and the elderly are the most susceptible to MRSA infection and death. Anyone who is concerned about a suspicious wound should look for the usual signs of infection. A wound that is red, sore, swollen, hot to the touch, or draining should be checked by a doctor immediately.