Closing schools is not the answer to staph infection

Dr. Greg Harrington, a specialist in infectious diseases and director of the Calhoun County Health Dept. held a press conference today to calm fears resulting from the death of a 17-year-old Virginia student from Methicillin-Resistent Staphylococcus aeureus (MRSA). In that Virginia district, 21 schools were shut down but in reality, Harrington says that is not the right response because the bacteria lives on the person, not on objects and is spread by people. "It's been in our county since 2002," he said. "We had a case reported today. It's the number one diagnosis in my office. I think the school closings really got people's attention."
His office has received an increase in MRSA inquiries since 2002. MRSA, often referred to as "staph" is a contagious but treatable disease spread by direct physical contact, not throug the air.
MRSA has been prevalent in health care facilities (Health Care Associated MRSA/HA-MRSA) for many years. Cases of MRSA have been reported throughout the nation, including Michigan, among correctional facility inmates, athletes, school children and military recruits. According to a Calhoun County Health Department press release, "often, these infections occur among young, otherwise healthy individuals."
Staphylococcus aureus are bacteria that can be carried on the skin and moist areas of the body. MRSA is a Staphylococcus aureus that has become resistent to certain antibiotics.
In most cases an individual can carry this organism without serious health consequences. However, in some instances, infection may occur. The majority of infections involve skin and soft tissue wounds with rare occurrences of pneumonia and blood infections.
Sthapylococcus aureus pneumonia is a known secondary complication following influenza. These MRSA pneumonia cases have been reported nationwide during the annual influenza seasons.
The best preventions against these serious infections is influenza vaccination, appropriate respiratory and hand hygiene, appropriate environmental disinfection and control of acquisition and transmission of MRSA.
Following is the original Associated Press report of the Virginia case:

Virginia teen dies after being hospitalized with drug-resistant strain of staph infection
Source: AP - AP Wire Service
Oct 16 20:52
BEDFORD, Va. (AP) A high school student who was hospitalized for more than a week with an antibiotic-resistant staph infection has died. After a student protest, officials shut down 21 schools for cleaning to keep the illness from spreading.

Ashton Bonds, 17, a senior at Staunton River High School, died Monday after being diagnosed with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, his mother said.

"I want people to know how sick it made my son," Veronica Bonds said.

Staph infections, including the serious MRSA strain, have spread through schools nationwide in recent weeks, according to health and education officials.

MRSA is a strain of staph bacteria that does not respond to penicillin and related antibiotics but can be treated with other drugs. The infection can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or sharing an item used by an infected person, particularly one with an open wound.

Staunton River students organized a protest overnight Monday using text messages and social networking sites. They took Bedford County Schools Superintendent James Blevins on a tour of the school Tuesday to show him how unclean it is, in particular the locker rooms.

Blevins said at a news conference Tuesday that the schools will be closed for cleaning Wednesday. Staunton River will be cleaned by a commercial cleaning company, and the county's other schools will be cleaned by janitorial staff.

Many of the infections are being spread in gyms and locker rooms, where athletes - perhaps suffering from cuts or abrasions - share sports equipment. Ashton Bonds played football last year but was not playing this season.

The teen went to Bedford Memorial Hospital on Oct. 4 after complaining of pain in his side, his mother said. He was sent home after doctors ruled out appendicitis, but was readmitted three days later and taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Last week doctors diagnosed him with a MRSA infection that had spread to his kidneys, liver, lungs and the muscles around his heart.

Early Thursday morning, the teen had to be sedated and put on a ventilator. He was about to undergo surgery to drain the infection from his lungs when doctors detected a blood clot near his heart. Bonds said the clot was inoperable.

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