MRSA in Coos County, Sept. 25

According to a news release from the Coos Co. Health Dept., two cases of MRSA have been confirmed which does NOT constitute an outbreak. INFORMATION AND STEPS TO TAKE TO PREVENT MRSA – What type of infections does MRSA cause? Most MRSA infections are skin infections that may appear as pimples or boils which often are red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. These skin infections commonly occur at sites of visible skin trauma, such as cuts and abrasions, and areas of the body covered by hair (e.g., back of neck, groin, buttock, armpit, beard area of men). Almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated by drainage of pus with or without antibiotics. How is MRSA spread? MRSA is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else’s infection (e.g., towels, used bandages). How do I protect myself from getting MRSA? You can protect yourself by: • Practicing good hygiene (e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and showering immediately after participating in exercise); • Covering skin trauma such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage until healed; • Avoiding sharing personal items (e.g., towels, razors) that come into contact with your bare skin; and using a barrier (e.g., clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment such as weight-training benches; • Maintaining a clean environment by establishing cleaning procedures for frequently touched surfaces and surfaces that come into direct contact with people’s skin. Myrtle Point Junior and High School is taking the necessary steps to tackle MRSA – • The school invited a doctor to talk with the students and some parents about MRSA and about the measures to take to prevent it from spreading; • The school is taking extra precautions with cleaning. For more information about MRSA and specific information for athletes and sport coaches visit the Coos County website at www.co.coos.or.us