District Health Director says common-sense strategy can combat “superbug” infections

Antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus infections like the “superbug” that claimed the life of a 17-year-old high school student in Virginia earlier this week can be found nearly everywhere, including Southwest Public Health District’s 14 counties, say public health officials.

“Like terrorism, poverty and hunger, methicilllin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is probably here to stay,” said Southwest Public Health District Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant. “Although we may not be able to eradicate it completely, there are measures we can take that will slow it down and save lives.”

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called staph – are usually harmless. They can be found in about a third of the general population. 

The strain of staph resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it emerged in hospitals decades ago, she said. Today MRSA’s breeding grounds include schools and gyms. In Virginia, 21 schools were closed for intense cleansing after the high school student died there.

Healthy people can be colonized with MRSA without experiencing ill effects, Grant said. They can also pass the germ along to others.

“However, MRSA can be dangerous, as we have seen from recent news accounts. The Centers for Disease Control have identified it as a growing threat that infects 90,000 Americans annually,” Grant said. “MRSA infection is responsible for many serious skin and soft tissue infections and for a serious form of pneumonia. When not recognized quickly enough and treated properly, the infection can be fatal.”

The number of MRSA fatalities may surpass AIDS deaths, the CDC warned.
Fortunately, individuals have easy access to a quick and inexpensive method to prevent the infection from spreading.
“Wash your hands,” Grant said. “Clean them thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.”
Grant also urged Southwest Georgia schools to adopt policies requiring athletes to inform coaches or trainers if they have a skin or soft tissue infection. “The policy should prohibit students from participating in contact activities until a physician has cleared them to return,” she said.
Schools should ensure that athletic areas and sports equipment be cleaned often using a commercial disinfectant or a fresh solution of one part bleach to 100 parts water, or one tablespoon bleach to one quart water, recommended Grant.
“Common sense is your best defense against MRSA,” she said. “Wash your hands thoroughly. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. MRSA spreads on contaminated objects as well as through direct contact.”
Cuts, scrapes and other wounds should be kept covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal, she said. “If you have a cut or sore, wash your towels and bed linens in hot water with bleach and dry them thoroughly,” she continued. “Wash workout clothes and athletic clothing after each wearing.”

Staph infections, including MRSA, typically start as small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites, said Southwest Health District Epidemiologist Jackie Jenkins.
“These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin,” Jenkins said. “But they can also burrow deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.”

Grant recommended keeping an eye on minor skin problems, especially in children. “If wounds become infected, see your doctor,” she said. “Ask to have any skin infection tested for MRSA before starting antibiotic therapy. Drugs that treat ordinary staph aren't effective against MRSA, and their use could lead to serious illness and more resistant bacteria.”

Risk factors for MRSA infection include: