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A second Narrows High School student was confirmed on Tuesday as being diagnosed with MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus infection).
Giles County officials on Wednesday confirmed that this was the second case to be reported. The first case of MRSA was reported to have occurred two weeks ago when another Narrows student was diagnosed. In recent weeks, there have been several reported cases of MRSA. Thus far, there have been five reported cases in Bedford County and one in Galax. Just this past Monday, 17-year-old Ashton Bonds of Staunton River High School, died with the staph infection. According to a letter dated Oct. 17 from Dr. Terry E. Arbogast, II., Superintendent of Giles County Public Schools. Both students have been treated by a physician to our knowlwdge. According to the Virginia Department of Health, schools are not required to report MRSA outbreaks. A check with the school districts in Pulaski County and Montgomery County have reported no confirmed cases of MRSA. No other schools in Giles County are affected, as well. Below is a copy of the letter, which was sent out to the parents in Giles County on Oct. 17 GILES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
151 School Road
Pearisburg, Virginia 24134
Dr. Terry E. Arbogast, II Phone: (540) 921–1421 X 12
Division Superintendent E-Mail:
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October 17, 2007
Dear Parent / Guardian:
Due to recent news media coverage regarding skin infections, this letter is to provide you with
factual information about the situation, and what it means for students, parents, and staff at Giles County Public Schools. Staphylococcus aureus (or “staph”) bacteria are commonly found on
human skin and in nasal passages. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (or “MRSA”) is a
form of staph that has developed some resistance to commonly-used antibiotics. All forms of
staph, including MRSA, are most commonly transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact, and
introduced into the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut or a scrape. These illnesses are present in our community, and have been for years. We’ve all become much more aware of them recently, and this awareness gives us the opportunity to educate ourselves about the risks of infection, and ways to prevent its spread and protect ourselves.
Giles County Public Schools has two laboratory confirmed cases of MRSA. To our knowledge,
both students have been treated by a physician. We are taking all the precautionary hygiene
measures to clean the schools and athletic team locker rooms. This practice has taken place since the beginning of school and will become a regular practice throughout the school year at all
schools. We are following guidelines set by the Virginia Department of Health and will continue
to implement proper hygiene protocol as directed by the Health Department.
Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections. While up to 30%
(estimated) of us carry these bacteria in our noses, only about 1% (estimated) of us carry MRSA.
Staph is not considered an “airborne” bacteria and therefore spreading should not be expected to occur by sitting in a classroom with an infected individual or from passing them on the street.
Most infections are spread by material from another person’s wet or draining infections that get
on a break in someone else’s skin. This is why it is very important to cover any infection with a
bandage to help prevent other people from contracting the germs that are in the draining infection. The illnesses caused by MRSA are the same as those caused by other staph, but they are treated differently. MRSA can occur in people who have direct or skin-to-skin contact with a person carrying the beacteria or by touching objects contaminated with MRSA (e.g., clothes, towels, bedding, athletic equipment, benches in saunas or hot tubs, bandages). Symptoms include redness, warmth, pus and a wound that does not heal, with the sores often being mistaken for “spider bites”.
One of the best ways to protect yourself against MRSA and other skin infections is by practicing
good hygiene and covering up exposed cuts and wounds.. There are many effective ways that are recommended for minimizing the risk of skin infections, with some being listed below:
• Wash your hands often, especially when exposed to someone with an infection or when
you touch objects that may be contaminated.
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered.
• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sports equipment, razors, water bottles, etc.
• Shower after any contact sports or after working out in a public facility, change into clean
clothes and wash practice or workout clothes after each use.
• Children that have draining wounds that cannot be easily contained by dressings should
be excused from sports participation and in some cases should be kept home from school
until the draining stops or is easily contained, particularly if MRSA infection is known or
suspected.
• If a sore or cut becomes red, oozes, causes pain or isn’t healing, see a doctor.
• Don’t insist on antibiotics for colds or other viruses.
• If prescribed antibiotics, take all the pills, even if you feel better before they are all gone.
• Report any suspicious wounds to the coach, athletic trainer, or school nurse immediately.
While thoroughly cleaning the school environment is important and helpful for many
reasons, it does not reduce or eliminate the need to practice these good health habits. These
remain important for everyone, all the time!
In otherwise healthy people, most minor wounds, even infected ones, will heal on their own and
do not need antibiotics. Wounds can be helped to heal by keeping them clean, changing dressings when they become soiled and, if needed, periodically applying a dry heat compress over the dressing. If you have a wound that is not healing or you think you have a staph or MRSA infection, contact your health care provider. Most often your doctor will want to culture the
wound to identify the germ. Wound cultures are becoming increasingly important so doctors can
identify what is causing an infection that is not healing well on its own. Sometimes your doctor
may recommend an antibiotic but many of these infections will heal themselves without
antibiotics as long as any pus is drained and good hygienic wound care is practiced.
If you are interested in obtaining additional information on MRSA, it can be found on the
Virginia Department of Health’s Web site at:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/Epidemiology/factsheets/Methicillin.htm. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Dr. Terry E. Arbogast, II
Division Superintendent
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