MRSA

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MRSA

• November 2007
• Nash County Health Department

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Staphylococcus aureus

• Often referred to as staph
• Very common bacteria
• About 25 -30 of healthy people carry this
  organism on their skin or in their nose.
• Is the most common cause of skin infections in
  the United States
• Can also cause other infections like pneumonia,
  but this is not as common

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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA)

• Is a type of staph that is resistant to certain
  antibiotics
• Overuse of antibiotics may be a cause of the
  development of MRSA
• Many people carry MRSA on their skin or in their
  nose.
• Infections caused by MRSA, for the most part, are
  not different from other staph infections,
  although some strains of MRSA may be more
  aggressive than regular staph.
• The diagnosis of a MRSA infection requires
  laboratory testing.

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What does Staph and MRSA look like?

• Spider bite
• Turf burn
• Impetigo
• Boil
• Abscess
•   

Source LA County Health Department
Source Mark Grubb, MD
Source CDC
Source CDC
Source CDC
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MRSA Pictures
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Factors that can contribute to the spread of
Staph and MRSA

• Living in crowded conditions
• Lacking resources to stay clean
• Lacking access to healthcare
• Sharing sports equipment
• Sharing personal hygiene items

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What increases the risk for a MRSA skin
infection?

• Overusing antibiotics or taking them
  incorrectly
• Openings in the skin, like cuts and
  abrasions
• Having severe immune system problems - Cancer,
  Leukemia, HIV

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Who Gets MRSA
Anyone can get MRSA!
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How is MRSA Treated?

• By a healthcare provider who may
• Drain the infection and/or
• Prescribe an antibiotic and/or
• Reduce the amount of MRSA on the patients skin

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How does MRSA Spread?

• Through contact with
• Skin infections
• Drainage from skin infections
• Surfaces contaminated with MRSA
• The main way that staph is spread from one person
  to another is by hands

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Stop the Spread of MRSA and other germs!

• Hand washing is the most important way to prevent
  MRSA
• Wash your hands often with warm soapy water, use
  friction and scrub for 20 seconds
• Use 62 alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap
  and water are not available
• Purell and Germ-X are 2 examples

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Stop the Spread of MRSA!

• Dont touch other peoples skin lesions
• See your doctor if you think that you have an
  infection.
• If your doctor tells you that you have a MRSA
  skin infection, cover the wound with a clean, dry
  bandage that adheres to skin on all 4 sides
• Swimming and other sports that cause sweating and
  would keep the bandage from staying in place
  should be avoided until the area has dried. Talk
  to your coach and school nurse.

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Clean Disinfect to get Rid of MRSA on Surfaces

• MRSA can stay on environmental surfaces for
  weeks!
• Clean Disinfect frequently all environmental
  surfaces that may come in direct contact with skin

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Clean and Disinfect

• Keyboards
• Phones
• Desktops, lunch tables
• Doorknobs, light switches

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Clean Disinfect

• Sports equipment (head gear, weights) that
  directly touch skin - after each use
• Practice surfaces (wrestling mats) - before
  after each practice session

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Help Families Team Up

• Encourage
• Frequent hand washing use of 62 alcohol
  sanitizer when soap water not available
• Showering immediately after practice, competition
  matches
• Wearing athletic uniforms once, then washing with
  soap/hot water drying in a hot dryer
• Reporting skin infections to nurse/trainer

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Protecting students from infections helps protect
you and your family!
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School Attendance

• The student should be encouraged to have the
  wound looked at by their healthcare provider as
  soon as possible to confirm a MRSA infection and
  determine the best course of treatment.
• Students and staff with a MRSA infection can
  attend school regularly as long as the wound is
  completely covered and they are receiving proper
  treatment.
• Athletes need to consult with the coach and
  school nurse
• Students and staff do not need to be isolated or
  sent home in the middle of the day if a suspected
  staph or MRSA infection is noticed.
• Wash the area with soap and water and cover it
  lightly.
• Those who touch the wound should wash their hands
  immediately.
• The wound should be kept lightly covered until it
  has dried completely.

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Websites
NC Department of Public Health www.epi.state.nc.us
/epi/gcdc/ca_mrsa/ca_mrsa.html DHR Georgia
Division of Public Health www.health.state.ga.us
CDC Hand Hygiene cdc.gov/handhygiene/ CDC
CA-MRSA Information cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/Aresist/ca
_mrsa.htm