MRSA case confirmed

Cleaning crew disinfects common areas at Cambridge Elementary School

by Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
   South Brunswick school officials are confirming that a student at Cambridge Elementary School has contracted Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, but said that they do not believe that the infection was contracted at school.
   South Brunswick officials are not identifying the student and sent out a notification letter to parents Wednesday.
   Although the district is not required to inform parents of MRSA on isolated incidents, school officials elected to inform parents in this specific instance.
   ”The district will try to make parents aware of any circumstance that could threaten or imperil the health of their children,” said Superintendent Gary McCartney. “I thought rumors would be more dangerous than the truth.”
   Using EPA cleansers, a cleaning crew has disinfected the common areas at Cambridge, including door handles, water fountains and gym areas, Dr. McCartney said.
   ”Our thinking is that this isn’t something that happened at school,” he said. “But we’re taking precautions as if this is something that happened at school.”
   Dr. McCartney said that the student is doing fine and said the community should understand that MRSA is treatable, it just requires more ingenuity from doctors in terms of how it is treated.
   Concern over MRSA’s presence in the schools has been widespread since mid-October, when Brooklyn, N.Y., middle school student Omar Rivera contracted and eventually died from the bacterial infection.
   MRSA is a bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site. It also states that this type of staph infection, usually found in hospitals, has made its way out into the general population becoming a community-associated infection.
   Most MRSA infections appear as pustules or boils that can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or drainage, according to the CDC Web site. Infections normally occur at sites on the body with visible skin trauma and areas covered with hair and are usually caused by skin-to-skin contact or contact with material that has touched an infection.
   Prior to this incident the South Brunswick School District has already been taking steps to prevent staph infections in the schools.
   On Friday, the district gave its parents and students access to general information as well as the preventative steps to take in dealing with Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.
   School board member Matthew Speesler, who also is a private practice pediatrician, said MRSA infections are not common but can be treated with antibiotics in the hospital.
   ”If you have any skin infection that isn’t healing you should see a physician immediately,” he said. “(With) any bacterial infection where you wait too long, you run the risk of a fatality.”
   The district has attempted to reach out to parents in an effort to address any concerns through a newsletter with information on the issue by way of e-mails, brochures and a link on it’s Web site.
   ”All school Web sites have this posted on their sites and I sent it to all of the PTO presidents,” said Rebecca Leonard, school district public information officer. “We also did a districtwide e-mail to all staff.”
   By following the MRSA link on each school’s Web page, parents can find a short description of MRSA, the notification policies, school closing procedures, preventative tips and the proactive measures that the district has taken such as routine cleaning and staff education.
   According to its MRSA newsletter, the district isn’t required to report single cases of MRSA to the South Brunswick Health Department because the department does not have the resources to investigate every isolated infection in the public. However, the district is required to notify the department in instances when there is a cluster, or two or more nonhousehold cases within the schools.
   Township Health Officer Steven J. Papenberg said the district is playing by the same rules as many local doctors.
   ”I’m sure physician’s offices are seeing MRSA, it certainly wouldn’t be unusual,” he said. “It’s not reportable unless it’s a cluster.”
   Students and staff who have the bacterial infection will be allowed to remain in school as long as they are compliant with infection control measures, meaning skin infections must be bandaged and kept clean, according to the district’s newsletter.
   It also states that athletes who might contract the infection may participate in sports if their wounds are properly bandaged. In addition, if there appears to be an outbreak in a particular sport the district can temporarily shut down the program upon the South Brunswick Health Department’s recommendation.
   Ms. Leonard said the schools are taking special precautions with athletes by posting MRSA notices in the district’s gyms and locker rooms.
   Among these posting are recommendations on good hygiene practices that may help students avoid contracting the infection.
   These recommendations include: thorough hand-washing, using hand sanitizers, regular showering or bathing after practices, consistent washing and drying practice clothes using hot water and air, keeping wounds cleaned and bandaged and avoiding the sharing of towels, razors, soaps and other items.
   The district has also been routinely cleaning its athletic equipment to further ensure students’ safety, Ms. Leonard said.
   The school nurses have also been advised of the signs and symptoms, according to the newsletter.
   As is the policy, the district contacted the South Brunswick Health Department to notify officials of the recent MRSA infection and the schools current course of action, said Dr. McCartney.
   The department was in full accordance with the district’s actions.
   ”I understand why they are going in this direction,” Mr. Papenberg said. “It’s never a bad idea to use an opportunity to provide additional information to the parents.”