What is MRSA

There have been some recent news reports regarding the occurrence of drug-resistant bacteria in schools in Ocean County. While staphylococcal or “staph” bacteria are often found on the skin or in the noses of healthy people and do not cause infection. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA) are staph bacteria that have become resistant to certain antibiotics, making them more difficult to treat. (Note: all staph infections are not MRSA.)

MRSA skin infections are transmitted through person to person contact and infection occurs when there is a break in the skin, allowing the bacteria to enter the body. Close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions and poor hygiene are identified factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA.

What we are doing to help prevent MRSA in school

Prevention is crucial to limiting the spread of infections. To that end, Stafford Township School District has taken the following precautionary measures:

·  Teachers have been instructed to remove all items from student desks at the end of the school day. This will allow for the custodial staff to disinfect all hard surfaces such as desks, tables, and chairs, in the classroom on a daily basis. Door handles and door bars are also being disinfected at the end of each school day.

·  Any mats that are used during the day by Physical Education, OT or PT teachers will also be disinfected.

·  Cafeteria tables are disinfected daily at the end of each lunch period.

·  Surfaces in all nurses’ offices are cleaned daily with a disinfectant

·  Bathrooms are disinfected with new cleaning equipment that has a 4 step process:

·  Cleaner is sprayed on all walls, floors and fixtures

·  Battery operated scrubbers clean all surfaces

·  All residue is vacuumed off the surfaces

·  Disinfectant is sprayed

·  All disinfectants used in the district are “green” products and are effective against staph bacteria.

Staff members play a key role in prevention and control of MRSA infections. The following precautions and procedures have been reviewed with faculty members to ensure compliance:

·  The cleaning procedures have been reviewed with all custodians.

·  Teachers have been asked to send to the nurse any student who has a cut, scrape or other wound that is draining because they can be potentially infectious to others.

·  Nurses have been informed of the signs and symptoms of MRSA infections and will assess students and refer students for medical evaluation if warranted.

·  Transportation personnel will be asked to wipe down the seats with a disinfectant at the end of the day.


In the event of a MRSA infection at one of our schools, we have a supply of the appropriate sanitizer on hand to disinfect the affected school. In addition, instructional materials have been prepared to ensure continuity of instruction if school needs to be closed to complete the disinfecting process.

What parents can do to help prevent MRSA

The Centers for Disease Control and prevention offers the following suggestions for preventing staph or MRSA skin infections.

·  Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and warm water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

·  Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. This is for your own child’s protection as well as others – remember an open wound is how MRSA bacteria can enter the body.

·  Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages

·  Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, and razors

·  Shower after playing sports or working out.

·  Clean uniforms, sheets towels and clothes with hot water and detergent and dry in a hot dryer.

We hope that parents and guardians will join us in our efforts to keep our students healthy. If you suspect that your child has an infected wound, please contact your health care professional and the school nurse. For additional information, please visit the following websites:

Centers for Disease and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/mrsa/documents/mrsa_factsheet.pdf