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Milan,
South Ripley send home letters
Area schools address staph infection (MRSA) issue
Wanda English Burnett, Editor
MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, also known as the
Superbug, is an antibiotic resistant strain of Staph infection that
has caused quite a stir in many communities recently.
With a 17-year-old senior students death in Virginia being
reportedly connected to MRSA, school officials have been cautious
with the strain knowing its strength. Last week a report of a confirmed
case at the Milan schools had some parents worried. Superintendent
Andrew Jackson told the media that the student was being treated
by a physician, and the school corporation was following the Center
for Disease Control guidelines. A letter was sent home on Wednesday,
October 24, about the situation that also outlined precautions for
parents to take.
Jackson said the CDC does not recommend closing the school, but
rather emphasizing the importance of hand washing. Desktops and
other school material were disinfected and athletes were asked to
take home their uniforms or gear to have it laundered. Staff was
busy disinfecting the locker rooms.
While there were no confirmed cases of MRSA at South Ripley schools,
a letter was sent home last Friday, October 26 with students. It
read in part, In light of recent news regarding methicillin-resistant
staphylococcus aureus infections (MRSA), we would like to seize
this opportunity to reassure parents that your childs health
and well-being continues to be our number one priority. The
letter went on to say if a student at South Ripley would be confirmed
to have the infection, the school would follow the guidelines of
the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and doctors
orders for the individual student. It further noted that the CDC
did not recommend keeping students home from school or closing the
school, should there be a case.
Our goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for
our children, the letter signed by Superintendent Ted Ahaus,
read. It went on to give simple good hygiene guidelines such as
keeping skin healthy, avoiding dry, cracked skin; washing hands
frequently, covering any skin cuts or abrasions with a clean, dry
bandage until healed, avoid sharing personal items such as towels,
razors and clothing, avoid contact with other peoples wounds,
and to contact the doctor if a skin infection does not improve.
Parents were provided additional information on MRSA, along with
websites to check out.
While not minimizing the serious affects MRSA can have, the Indiana
State Department of Health issued a press release this week saying,
Hoosiers should not be overly concerned about recent MRSA
cases.
The press release said MRSA is not a new disease and has been present
in Indiana for years. It is described as a type of bacteria which
has developed resistance to several antibiotics, making it more
difficult to treat. Most of the infections are treatable. Only when
MRSA enters the blood stream or a major body organ does it become
more serious and could be fatal.
With Indianapolis public schools reporting 14 cases and Cincinnati
schools also reporting cases of the infection, schools in the Tri
State area are taking precautions by sending letters home to parents
early on to avoid having something more serious in the future. The
main points to prevent infection from spreading are:
frequent and appropriate hand hygiene
do not share personal hygiene items
wounds should be washed promptly and thoroughly with soap
and hot water
routinely clean and sanitize areas where there is frequent
direct skin contact
see your doctor immediately if you notice red, swollen, or
painful wounds or skin breaks
and take antibiotics responsibly if prescribed.
Area school officials are asking parents to team up with them to
make sure students get every precaution to prevent the infection
from spreading. |
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