October 22, 2007

A letter is going home with students today to inform parents that we have two confirmed cases of CA-MRSA (Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), one each at Mariaville Elementary School and Schalmont High School. Since the diagnosis of this disease, the two individuals have been at home and not in school. They are taking antibiotics, are under the care of physicians, and will not return to school until cleared by their physicians. As one of many school districts throughout the state dealing with this issue, we are working closely with the health department on the treatment and prevention of MRSA in our schools.

CA-MRSA is a type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria normally carried on the skin and in the nose of healthy people. Some staph bacteria are resistant to the class of antibiotics usually used to treat staph infections, such as Methicillin, and are referred to as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The community- associated version of MRSA is treated with a different type of antibiotic. This infection commonly causes boils and soft tissue infection. Symptoms include redness, areas warm to the touch, pain, drainage, discomfort, and swelling.  If you or your child displays these symptoms, or if you have concerns about your or your child’s health, please contact your family physician.  It also is very important to report a diagnosed or suspected infectious condition to your school nurse. As always, health information will be kept strictly confidential.

Schalmont schools take measures to prevent infections, such as MRSA, that may spread in public spaces. These measures include having custodial staff regularly disinfect bathrooms, locker rooms, gym showers, water fountains, lunch tables, athletic equipment, and other such facilities. In addition, school nurses are well informed about MRSA, and students are encouraged to engage in proper hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing. In response to these cases, we are taking additional proactive steps to prevent the spread of MRSA:

• The applicable classrooms have been cleaned and disinfected.  As a further precaution, custodians and maintenance staff are focusing on additional cleaning of bathrooms.

• We continue to reinforce good hygiene practices with our general student population.  If you are a parent, please encourage your child to wash his or her hands thoroughly with soap, which health authorities tell us is the best preventative for this infection.