Attention Parents/Students
December 08, 2008
It’s that time of the year again when staph infections seem to be more prevalent. What is staph? Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is commonly found in the nose and on the skin of healthy people. Approximately 25-30% of the populations carry the bacteria without becoming ill.
What does a Staph infection look like?
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. Sometimes it may resemble a “bug or spider bite.” More serious staph infections can also cause pneumonia and infections of the blood and joints.
Over the past several years, treatment of some staph infections have become problematic because the bacteria have become resistant to some antibiotics. Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph that is resistant to some antibiotics, including the antibiotic methicillin.
How can Staph infections be prevented?
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based gel.
- Also practice good hygiene – showering with soap and water, changing clothes daily, etc. Staph can be transmitted by contact with secretions from infected skin lesions, wounds, nasal drainage, and objects and surfaces contaminated with staph.
- Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, and uniforms. In addition, since staph infections start when staph enters the body through a break in the skin, keeping skin healthy and intact is a good preventive measure.
If you have any questions, please call the nurse’s office at 246-5832. Wishing you and yours a safe and healthy new year.
Judy Knolhoff,
R.N., School Nurse
