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Health Tips

What Is MRSA?

A visit to the Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov offers a wealth of information. National outbreaks of MRSA in schools this fall have caused quite a stir in the media and medical community. This community acquired, virulent strain of Methicillin-Resistant Stapphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has been been given frightening names by the media, such as ”super bug.” CA-MRSA patients tend to have skin infections which often look like a boil or abcess. The site is red, swollen, painful and may have pus or other drainage. Types of sickness range from relatively minor skin infection to a form of pneumonia which can be rapidly fatal.

The way CA-MRSA is spread is by the touch of people’s hands which have been contaminated. Hands become contaminated by contact with another individual, contact with an infected body site on another individual, or touching devices, items or surfaces contaminated with body fluids containing staph or MRSA. Other factors contributing to spread of the virus include skin-to-skin contact, crowded conditions, and poor hygiene.

The 5 C’s of Contamination:
• Crowding
• Frequent Contact
• Compromised skin (cuts or abrasions)
• Contaminated items and surfaces
• Lack of Cleanliness

A few cases of the virus in school children have been reported at DRMC earlier this fall, but so far, Greenville has escaped the frightening epidemic-type outbreak that occurred in some major US cities, according to Sharon Henderson, Director of Infection Control for DRMC.
How to prevent the spread of infection (from Centers For Disease Control)

• Practice good hygiene: keep your hands clean by frequent washing with soap and water or using and alcohol-based hand sanitizer and showering immediately after participating in exercise
• Cover skin trauma such as abrasion, cuts, or pimples with a clean dry bandage until healed
• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors that come into contact with bare skin
• Use a barrier (clothing or towel) between your skin and shared equipment such as weight training equipment
• Maintain a clean environment by establishing cleaning procedures for frequently touched surfaces and surfaces that come into direct contact with people’s skin
• Wash sheets, towels and clothing in hot water with bleach whenever possible due to the fabric content of the item.