 Staphylococcus aureus is a
bacterium that is commonly carried in the nose and on the skin of
healthy people. The bacterium is often referred to as "staph." It is
estimated that 30 percent of the population carries staph on the
skin or in the nose. Methicillin or penicillin and cephalosporins
are generally used to treat staph infections. About 1 percent of
people have a type of staph that is resistant to these antibiotics
and is called methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, or MRSA, so other
antibiotics must be used to treat MRSA infections.
Over the past 20 years, MRSA infections have occurred primarily
among patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities. However,
MRSA infections are becoming more common in the community among
otherwise healthy people, such as students, who have not had contact
with health care personnel or patients. These infections are known
as "community-associated MRSA," or CA-MRSA, infections.
"We're seeing MRSA infections among otherwise healthy people,"
Arnold said. "We do not know the reason for this change but want to
make sure people know they can protect themselves. To reduce the
risk of MRSA infection, we must educate staff, students and parents
about how it is spread and how to avoid transmission. The department
has guidelines and will again provide these recommendations so
everyone will know basic tips to avoid transmitting this bacterium."
Basic hygiene is the best protection. Thorough hand washing is a
must, which includes washing hands before preparing or eating food,
after touching any skin lesions or clothing contaminated by drainage
from lesions, and after using the toilet or diapering a child. Keep
cuts and abrasions clean and covered with clean, dry bandages until
healed. Follow your health care provider's instructions on proper
care of wounds, and avoid contact with other people's wounds or
material contaminated by wounds. There are also recommendations to
avoid sharing towels and personal items, such as razors and
deodorant.
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Most infections caused by staph are skin infections, such as
pimples or boils. Staph skin infections can be red, painful,
swollen, or have pus or other drainage. More serious staph
infections can also cause pneumonia and infections of the blood and
joints.
If multiple cases of Staphylococcus aureus infection are
identified in a school, the school should provide students and their
parents, faculty and staff information about what Staphylococcal
aureus is, how it is spread and how staph infections can be
prevented. The local health department may also implement more
stringent requirements during an outbreak.
Realizing the need for more guidelines with regard to MRSA, Gov.
Rod R. Blagojevich recently signed legislation to help protect
people against MRSA infection. Health care facilities now have to
perform annual infection control risk assessments, develop infection
control policies, enforce hand hygiene and contact precaution
requirements, and incorporate any updated prevention and control
recommendations issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control.
In addition, hospitals are now required to screen all patients in
intensive care units and other "at-risk patients" identified by the
hospital for MRSA.
Additional recommendations are available for MRSA skin infections
when multiple cases occur in a group or school setting.
For more information, contact your local public health department
or the Illinois Department of Public Health at 217-782-2016 or visit
www.idph.state.il.us.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health news release received from the
Illinois Office of Communication and Information]
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