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mrsa
Staphylococcus Aureus--better known as "Staph"--are
bacteria commonly found in the noses and on the
skin of healthy people. Staph with
resistance to the antibiotic methicillin (and
other related antibiotics) are known as
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus--or
MRSA. Resistance means that a particular
antibiotic will not work against these bacteria.
When
staph are present on or in the body without
causing illness, it is called "colonization."
At any given time, from 20% to 50% of the
general population is colonized with staph
bacteria; some may be MRSA, while others are not
antibiotic-resistant.
Most
people with staph are colonized only.
These bacteria can occasionally get through the
skin barrier and cause superficial infections
(most such infections are not severe).
Symptoms of infection vary depending on the part
of the body that is infected. Skin
infections (the most common site of staph
infections) typically result in impetigo and
wound infections. Rarely, the bacteria get
into the bloodstream and other body sites and
can cause more severe illness.
Staph bacteria are spread by contact with the
hands, wound drainage, or nasal secretions of a
person who is infected or colonized.
Persons who have draining wounds are shedding
more bacteria and are more infectious than
persons who are colonized only. The role
of environmental surfaces is less clear but is
probably less important than direct
person-to-person spread.
Hand washing is the most effective method of
preventing the spread of staph. Persons
should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and
warm running water for at least 15 seconds (or
use an alcohol-based sanitizer if water is not
available).
Symptoms of a skin infection include purulent
drainage (pus); tenderness, redness or swelling;
area is warm to the touch or a fever is present.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms
with a skin infection, please consult your
doctor; take all antibiotics prescribed by your
doctor, even after the infection seems to have
healed; and keep the wound covered at all times
until completely healed.
Please click
here
to see a brochure about MRSA and what
you can do to help prevent the spread of MRSA.
For
more information about MRSA, please go to:
MRSA Update
There have been three confirmed cases of MRSA at
Bethel Park High School and one at Independence
Middle School this school year. With each
case, the
school's administration notified the Allegheny
County Health Department and continues to follow
the ACHD's guidelines. On each occasion,
letters from the Principal were sent home with
all of the school's
students to share with their parents.
Please click
here to see the most recent letter that
was sent home on May1 with all BPHS students.
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