|
Staph infection scare addressed by schools
Bath, Highland report no cases of MRSA found
BY JAMES JACENICH AND CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITERS
MONTEREY and WARM SPRINGS - Several reports of staph infections in the community, the death of a Bedford County student last week from a drug-resistant strain of staph infection, and a notice to parents and guardians that Highland and Bath schools, has caused concern among in both counties that an outbreak of an incurable disease was coming this way.
Officials say, while taking precautions is always a good idea, there is no immediate or unusual health threat related to antibiotic-resistant staph infections.
Gov. Timothy Kaine approved an emergency regulation by the State Health Commissioner Wednesday that requires laboratories to report Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection to the Virginia Department of Health. The regulation is expected to help public health authorities compile data on the prevalence of MRSA.
MRSA is a form of staph infection. The public schools in Bedford County were closed last Wednesday to prevent the spread of the drug-resistant infection after a 17-yearold high school student died.
Staph infections are passed from person to person through direct contact with skin or contaminated items. The bacteria, which live in noses and on skin, are not a problem most of the time. Staph can enter the body through breaks in the skin and cause infection. Symptoms include pimples, rashes, and pus-filled boils, especially when they are warm, painful, red or swollen, said the Virginia Department of Health.
In a memorandum sent to parents from Highland County Public Schools, superintendent Gary Blair said, "It is important to undertake some precautionary steps to assist us in providing a healthy learning environment for our students."
Blair sent the memorandum after meeting with county public health nurse Cathy Halterman and other school leaders, at the prompting of Dr. Billy K. Cannaday Jr., superintendent of the Virginia Department of Education, who sent a memorandum to all school districts in Virginia. The bulk of his message was copied verbatim in Blair's note to parents.
Deborah Bundy-Carpenter, RN, nurse epidemiologist of the Central Shenandoah Health District, said, "In the past, MRSA infections were mostly seen in hospitals. Now they are prevalent in community settings, too … MRSA can be diagnosed only through a laboratory test. MRSA infections can be treated. Treatment depends on the site and severity of the infection. Not all infections require oral antibiotics. MRSA is preventable and treatable."
Anyone can be infected, but most cases are associated with wrestling, volleyball and football teams, said VDH.
"We do consider the safest alternative available for all involved and will not hesitate to end play (or) practice should the safety of the individual student and the team become an issue," said Blair.
"I cannot overstate the importance of proper handwashing techniques both at school and at home," he added. "It is of the utmost importance that parents become aware of the appropriate techniques for handwashing and insist that their children do this not only at home but at other locations as well."
Custodians and staff worked Saturday afternoon to sanitize all areas of Bath County High School being used by students, according to principal Pete Pitard. "We sanitized the entire school. Scrubbed down desk, door knobs, floors, door frames with the solution recommended by the state," Pitard said.
"We've been aware of the risk for awhile," he added. Teachers were given information on precautions to take to avoid infection and also what to look for in students, at a recent in-service.
BCHS mailed out a letter to parents and guardians last week and both Valley and Millboro elementary schools sent the same letter home with students.
Contrary to countywide rumors, no cases of MRSA infection have occurred at BCHS, said Pitard. School employees continue to clean and sanitize high use areas and school health officials monitor students with "owies."
BCPS superintendent Dr. David Smith, wrote a letter to parents outlining precautionary steps Bath County schools were taking, which includes a review of routine cleaning and disinfecting procedures with maintenance/custodial staff, replacement of soap products with antibacterial soaps, purchase of hand sanitizer solution for classroom use, updated training of custodial staff regarding proper use of disinfectant products currently in use in schools, and providing precautionary information to school faculties and staff.
"Please support our efforts by increasing your child's awareness of staph infections and precautions," said Smith.
Highland schools disinfected athletic areas with bleach and water last weekend. School bus interiors will also be cleaned. Routine cleaning of the building is to continue, and teachers were advised to observe children for open wounds. Any student with wounds that are draining or containing pus will be referred to the health department nurse.
Coaches were directed to have athletes wash their hands after each practice and game, cover their wounds, and not share personal items or towels.
Parents were advised to clean wounds and cover them with a clean, dry bandage. "Wounds that do not heal properly need medical attention," said Blair.
Additional information is available at the Virginia Department of Health Web site: www.vdh.virginia.gov.
VDH suggests the proper way to wash hands is to wet, soap, wash for 20 seconds, rinse, dry and turn off the water with a paper towel. VDH encourages handwashing before eating and before and after using the toilet.
Blair said it takes at least three days to get laboratory tests completed to determine whether a simple staph infection is MRSA. Blair has not received confirmation that any cases of MRSA have occurred at Highland schools.
He wants citizens to know he is monitoring the situation, and if any cases are confirmed, he will take the appropriate steps, following department of health and department of education guidelines. Until then, he said, the school is heightening awareness of the disease among the student body and encouraging preventive measures.
| 
