MRSA: Middle school student's infection isolated incident

By Joe Kissel

October 26, 2007 04:14 pm

— GRAND ISLAND — The Grand Island School District is about to get more familiar with MRSA.
That’s shorthand for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial infection that can turn deadly.
One GI middle schooler was diagnosed with MRSA several days ago and was subsequently cleared by a doctor to return to class, according to Superintendent Robert Christmann.
Although there is only one known case, “The district is taking the added precaution of notifying all parents and guardians that it was diagnosed and treated,” he said.
To help in an effective response, middle school principal Bruce Benson contacted the Erie County Health Department for guidance.
“MRSA is a type of bacteria that is commonly spread through close direct skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts and abrasions, and poor hygiene,” Christmann said.
Although the bacteria is found mostly in health care settings, anybody can get an MRSA skin infection. In fact, 25 percent of the population has it on them at any given time, Christmann said.
Although the district contacted the health department, it is not required to do so.
“Single cases of MRSA are not reportable,” said Heather Lindstrom of the health department. “We follow up on a cluster of cases.”
Typically, the bacteria enters the body through a break in the skin, said Lisa Leucher, also of the health department.
“As it develops, the infection can look like a boil, spider bite or a pimple that’s not getting better,” she said.
The good news is the infection is treatable for most healthy people, she said. But MRSA caused more than 94,000 life-threatening infections and nearly 19,000 deaths in the United States in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control Web site.
“If you believe someone in your household has a soft skin condition or infection such as a boil or abscess and may have this infection, the Erie County Health Department recommends that a health care provider is seen immediately,” Christmann said.