Answers to commonly asked questions
about preventing the spread of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
skin infections.
CDC, along with
parents and school officials, wants to do everything possible to protect
students from MRSA skin infections. These are commonly asked questions
that will help parents and school officials prevent the spread of MRSA
in schools.
MRSA Facts
What
type of infections does MRSA cause?
• In the community most MRSA infections are skin infections that may
appear as pustules or boils which often are red, swollen, painful, or
have pus or other drainage. These skin infections commonly occur at
sites of visible skin trauma, such as cuts and abrasions, and areas of
the body covered by hair (e.g., back of neck, groin, buttock, armpit,
beard area of men).
• Almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated by drainage
of pus with or without antibiotics. More serious infections, such as
pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or bone infections, are very rare in
healthy people who get MRSA skin infections.
How is MRSA
transmitted?
• MRSA is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact
with shared items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone
else's infection (e.g., towels, used bandages).
In what settings
do MRSA skin infections occur?
-
MRSA skin infections can occur anywhere.
-
Some settings have factors that make it easier for MRSA to be
transmitted.
-
These factors,
referred to as the 5
C's,
are as follows:
Crowding,
frequent skin-to-skin
Contact,
Compromised
skin (i.e., cuts or abrasions),
Contaminated
items and surfaces, and lack of
Cleanliness.
-
Locations where the 5 C's are common include schools, dormitories,
military barracks, households, correctional facilities, and daycare
centers.
How do I protect myself from getting MRSA?
You can protect yourself by:
-
practicing good hygiene (e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing
with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and
showering immediately after participating in exercise);
-
covering skin trauma such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry
bandage until healed;
-
avoiding sharing personal items (e.g., towels, razors) that come into
contact with your bare skin; and using a barrier (e.g., clothing or a
towel) between your skin and shared equipment such as weight-training
benches;
-
maintaining a clean environment by establishing cleaning procedures
for frequently touched surfaces and surfaces that come into direct
contact with people's skin.
Should schools
close because of an MRSA infection?
-
The decision to close a school for any communicable disease should be
made by school officials in consultation with local and/or state public
health officials. However, in most cases, it is not necessary to close
schools because of an MRSA infection in a student. It is important to
note that MRSA transmission can be prevented by simple measures such as
hand hygiene and covering infections.
Should the school
be closed to be cleaned or disinfected when an MRSA infection occurs?
-
Covering infections will greatly reduce the risks of surfaces becoming
contaminated with MRSA.
In general it is not necessary to close schools to "disinfect" them when
MRSA infections occur. MRSA skin infections are transmitted primarily by
skin-to-skin contact and contact with surfaces that have come into
contact with someone else's infection.
-
When MRSA skin infections occur, cleaning and disinfection should be
performed on surfaces that are likely to contact uncovered or poorly
covered infections.
-
Cleaning surfaces with detergent-based cleaners or Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)-registered disinfectants is effective at
removing MRSA from the environment.
-
It is important to read the instruction labels on all cleaners to make
sure they are used safely and appropriately.
-
Environmental cleaners and disinfectants should not be used to treat
infections.
-
The EPA provides
a list of EPA-registered products effective against MRSA:
http://epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm
Should
the entire school community be notified of every MRSA infection?
-
Usually, it should not be necessary to inform the entire school
community about a single MRSA infection. When an MRSA infection occurs
within the school population, the school nurse and school physician
should determine, based on their medical judgment, whether some or all
students, parents and staff should be notified. Consultation with the
local public health authorities should be used to guide this decision.
-
Remember that staphylococcus (staph) bacteria, including MRSA, have
been and remain a common cause of skin infections.
Should the school
be notified that my child has an MRSA infection?
-
Consult with your school about its policy for notification of skin
infections.
Should students
with MRSA skin infections be excluded from attending school?
-
Unless directed by a physician, students with MRSA infections should
not be excluded from attending school.
-
Exclusion from school should be reserved for those with wound drainage
("pus") that cannot be covered and contained with a clean, dry bandage
and for those who cannot maintain good personal hygiene.
-
Students with active infections should be excluded from activities
where skin-to-skin contact is likely to occur (e.g., sports) until their
infections are healed.
I have an MRSA
skin infection. How do I prevent spreading it to others?
-
Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered
with clean, dry bandages until healed. Follow your healthcare provider's
instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can
contain staph, including MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will
help prevent the spread to others. Bandages and tape can be discarded
with the regular trash.
-
Clean your hands frequently. You, your family, and others in close
contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or
touching the infected wound.
-
Do not share personal items. Avoid sharing personal items, such as
towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms, that may have had
contact with the infected wound or bandage. Wash sheets, towels, and
clothes that become soiled with water and laundry detergent. Use a dryer
to dry clothes completely.
Practical Advice
for Teachers
-
If you observe children with open draining wounds or infections, refer
the child to the school nurse.
-
Enforce hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand
sanitizers (if available) before eating and after using the bathroom.
Advice for School
Health Personnel
-
Students with skin infections may need to be referred to a licensed
health care provider for diagnosis and treatment. School health
personnel should notify parents/guardians when possible skin infections
are detected.
-
Use standard precautions (e.g., hand hygiene before and after contact,
wearing gloves) when caring for nonintact skin or potential infections.
-
Use barriers such as gowns, masks and eye protection if splashing of
body fluids is anticipated.
Learning More
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MRSA page