Health Officials Issue ‘Staph’ Prevention Guidelines

(McKINNEY, Texas) -- The Texas Department of State Health Services has released new guidelines through county health departments to help prevent the spread of staphylococcal infections.

The guidelines include checklists for schools and their athletic departments, child care settings, dormitories, group homes, gyms and spas, salons, offices, youth camps – and homes.

Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to as “staph,” are bacteria that can cause skin infections that can be first mistaken for insect or spider bites. Staph bacteria are spread through person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated surfaces. Some staph bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

In the last year in Collin County, three people died from complications resulting from antibiotic-resistant staph infections: a 9-year-old boy, a 26-year-old man, and a 33-year-old woman. Nationwide, MRSA caused more than 94,000 life- threatening infections and as many as 19,000 deaths in 2005, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“While the majority of MRSA infections are minor, there have been infections with tragic outcomes,” says Janet Glowicz, Collin County’s staff epidemiologist. “While the schools are certainly taking steps to disinfect and encourage good hygiene, we’ll also need a community-wide partnership to really make an impact in the fight against MRSA.”

Symptoms of serious infection include fever or persistent draining, bleeding or red streaks at the infected site. The bacteria also can cause life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia and bloodstream infections.

“Regular hand washing is the best way to prevent staph transmission,” says Marilyn Felkner, a DSHS epidemiologist. “Getting back to the basics – using soap and water, or hand sanitizer – is essential in facilities where people work, live and play close together.”

State and county health authorities recommend the following guidelines to avoid infection:

• Practice good hygiene, especially regular hand washing.
• Do not share personal items such as towels or razors.
• Thoroughly clean shared items – toys, telephones, keyboards – using a 1:100 bleach-water solution.
• Cover open wounds or cuts with a clean, dry bandage.
• Seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
• Schools and employers in close-contact settings should create infection containment policies and provide prevention information to employees.

For more information, contact Collin County epidemiologist Janet Glowicz, 972-548-5534. Collin County Health Care Services has also posted an informational flyer on MRSA. A complete set of state-recommended guidelines is available at www.mrsaTexas.org.

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