First MRSA Infection Case Identified at Geneva High School
October 30, 2007
The Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Areus (MRSA) bacteria continues it’s spread through area schools. Today, the Geneva School District released the following informational press release.
A Geneva High School student has been identified as having Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA. This student is receiving the appropriate medical attention and has been released by a physician to return to school.
Cases of the MRSA bacteria have also been reported in neighboring school districts. Given MRSA’s prevalence in all communities, we should anticipate that more cases will be diagnosed both here and elsewhere. While Geneva School District has been proactive against the MRSA bacteria in recent weeks, another cleaning of athletic and fitness areas is scheduled to take place this week. High-touch items such as light switches, desks and hand railings are being disinfected nightly. Environmentally-safe, or “green, “cleaning products that have been used in the district for several years and that are effective against the bacteria are being used.
The most effective way to decrease the transmission of the bacteria, however, is to wash your hands and practice good personal hygiene.
MRSA is spread through direct contact. The following are ways that students,
staff and parents can do their part to avoid spreading the MRSA bacteria:
- Wash Your Hands – this has been identified by health professionals as the best preventative measure
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, water bottles, lip balm, etc.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered
- Regularly wash P.E. and athletic clothes
- Avoid contact with other people’s wounds and bandages
- See your health care provider about non-healing wounds
MRSA infections may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful
or have pus or other drainage. It may be mistaken as a spider or insect bite
and can cause bloodstream infections, throat infections or pneumonia.
More information about MRSA can be found on the district’s website,
www.geneva304.org . Included are links to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Kane County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A letter containing much of the same information mentioned above is being sent home to all Geneva 304 families this week. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their school’s nurse with any questions or concerns related to MRSA.
See my prior post for the Geneva School Districts Statement on MRSA.
