Infections caused by staphylococcal bacteria occur commonly in the community; and, last week, individual cases have been confirmed at Barrett, Firestone Park, Harris, David Hill and Voris elementary schools in Akron. A physician has treated each of these cases. Each school building has been cleaned. Even before the recent concern about MRSA, all Akron Public Schools buildings have been cleaned regularly with a broad-spectrum, germ-killing solution that is effective against Staph aureus, including MRSA.
Akron Public Schools routinely works with the Akron Health Department and other health officials to monitor illnesses, look for disease trends and determine when specific local responses to significant increases in illness are required. Health officials advise schools about the appropriate ways to handle specific illnesses.
While MRSA can cause some various serious illnesses, most MRSA infections are in the skin and soft tissue and can be treated. Common signs of a skin infection include redness, warmth, swelling and tenderness. Often an MRSA infection will look like a spider bite, abscess or pimple.
It is important to seek medical attention early for any wound or sore that looks infected, and follow a physician's instructions completely.
Parents and students can help by encouraging and practicing proper hygiene, especially by:
- keeping hands clean by washing with soap and water or using alcohol based hand rubs and showering after athletic games and practices;
- washing cuts and scrapes and keeping them covered with clean, dry bandages;
- not sharing personal items such as towels, soap or razors;
- keeping clothes and linens clean; and
- not using whirlpools, hydrotherapy pools, cold tubs, swimming pools or other common tubs if open wounds are present.
