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MRSA staph infection-deadly disease; Rochester, Troy, Walled Lake, Com.Twnsp
Topic Started: Oct 18 2007, 02:04 PM (2,133 Views)
Mrs.M
Veteran
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...0359/1408/LOCAL
Thursday, October 18, 2007

Athlete diagnosed with staph
Troy student's case comes after deputy alleges he got drug-resistant MRSA at jail.
Mark Hicks and Paul Egan / The Detroit News
A Troy High School athlete has been diagnosed with a drug-resistant staph infection and eight other students reported a similar rash the same week a deputy sued the county for allegedly contracting the deadly disease.

The diagnosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA, prompted the school to close its physical education and varsity locker rooms as well as training and weight rooms by 3 p.m. Wednesday for cleaning to prevent the spread of the disease.

The case follows a federal health report Tuesday that the germ causes more life-threatening infections than public health authorities had thought and is killing more people in the United States each year than the AIDS virus.

The Troy High varsity football player, who was not identified, was diagnosed Monday with MRSA, Troy High School Principal Mark Dziatczak said in a letter distributed to parents Wednesday.

Eight other varsity football players reported a similar skin irritation and sought treatment, but have not been diagnosed with the disease, said Tim McAvoy, a district spokesman.

In addition, all football equipment was ordered to be sanitized according to recommendations from medical staff and the Michigan Department of Community Health, Dziatczak said in the letter. "We believe it prudent to take the additional steps purely as a precaution."

The process was expected to be completed by today at the nearly 2,000-student school.

Student athletes are advised to wash hands, uniforms and equipment thoroughly as well as cover cuts and scrapes.

"We're very concerned," McAvoy said. "We want parents to know that we're taking every action to prevent any other occurrence."

MRSA can be transferred via cuts or abrasions, close skin contact and poor hygiene, health officials say. Symptoms can include small red bumps resembling pimples or boils that become swollen or painful or display pus.

According to the Oakland County Health Division, more serious cases may cause pneumonia or infections of surgical wounds and the bloodstream.

The infection can occur in hospitals but also thrives in contact sports, said T.J. Bucholz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community Health. "It's more common in that kind of setting."

The Troy High School case comes after Oakland County Sheriff's Deputy Gordon Belanger filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit, alleging he contracted MRSA while working at the county jail and transmitted it to his son.

Belanger, who is also suing Sheriff Michael Bouchard, alleges county officials retaliated against him after he filed a workers compensation claim for contracting the disease, which could be spreading nationwide.

According to a study published this week by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates MRSA causes more than 94,000 serious infections and nearly 19,000 deaths annually.

On Monday, Ashton Bonds, 17, a high school senior in Moneta, Va., died from MRSA. Officials closed some 22 county schools for cleaning.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
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STAPH SCARE: 9 Students Show Symptoms
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?...9a-e91880138950

Last Update: 12:42 pm

Staph Scare Spreads to Rochester

TROY, Mich. (AP) - A high school football player has been diagnosed with a drug-resistant staph infection and eight of his teammates reported a similar rash, the school district says.

As a result, Troy High School closed its physical education and varsity locker rooms, weight and training rooms, and interior walls on Wednesday so they could be disinfected, The Detroit News, the Oakland Press of Pontiac and the Detroit Free Press reported.

The scare comes after a 17-year-old high school senior in Bedford, Va., died Monday after being diagnosed with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Troy High principal Mark Dziatczak said in a letter to parents that the unidentified football player was diagnosed Monday with MRSA.

The eight other players with similar skin irritations sought treatment, but had not been diagnosed with the disease, district spokesman Tim McAvoy said.


Last Update: 12:26 pm

From Rochester Community Schools...
Rochester Community Schools has been informed that a Reuther student has been diagnosed with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The child is taking medication and will remain at home until approved for return to school by the family physician.

We have reported this condition to the Oakland County Communicable Disease Unit and Reuther’s public health nurse. The custodial staff is following health department guidelines to clean the locker rooms and equipment. Students have been instructed to take all clothing home and wash it in hot soapy water. Physical education staff members and coaches have also been asked to be alert for signs of staph infections. A copy of the MRSA Fact Sheet distributed by the Oakland County Michigan Health Division is available for your review by clicking here.

Like most bacterial skin infections, MRSA can be spread through contact. We urge parents to reinforce measures taken at school that reduce the spread of bacteria including good hand washing, not sharing personal items and keeping wounds covered.

MRSA can only be identified through the laboratory culture process. If your child has a wound which becomes infected, please consult your physician.

I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
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http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/14368584/detail.html
Schools On Alert; More Staph Cases Reported

POSTED: 11:11 am EDT October 18, 2007
UPDATED: 12:01 pm EDT October 18, 2007

Several schools around Detroit are taking precautions after they have receiving notice that several students have been diagnosed with staph infections.

Capac Community schools sent out a letter to parents about two confirmed cases of a staph infection in their district.

One male and one female are being treated.

School officials disinfected the building. School was never closed.

There was another case reported at Adlai Stevenson High School in Utica.

The student is receiving medical treatment. School officials said the male is an athlete but they did not release which team he played on.

The school was sanitized and a letter was sent home to all parents in the school district.

Authorities said Reuther Middle School in Rochester was informed Thursday morning that a student had a staph infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

School officials said they are in the process of shutting down locker rooms and areas of the building where the student was.

Students are being told to take all of their clothing home and wash them.

The concerns come after a Troy student was diagnosed with MRSA earlier this week.

"We all noticed it was on our elbows," said David Wunderlich said.

Eight other Troy High football players have a similar rash, but school officials confirmed they were not the same infection.

The school sent a letter home to parents alerting them of the situation. School officials said the locker room and weight room were sanitized and reopened on Thursday.

Dear Parents,
We have recently received information that we have one varsity football athlete with a confirmed case of MRSA, a type of bacteria that causes skin infection. Eight other varsity football players have reported similar skin irritation and have been advised to seek medical treatment (all have been treated as of this communication). To prevent any possible transfer of infection, Troy High School will be closing its PE and varsity locker rooms (men’s and women’s), training room, and weight room until the interior spaces can be completely and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The cleaning process will begin today at 3:00 p.m. and will conclude this evening. The aforementioned spaces will reopen first thing tomorrow morning. This step is being implemented to help reduce the possibility of spread to other student athletes. THS staff members are working with all possibly infected students and their families to ensure that proper medical treatment is implemented.
Further, the district will also be working with football staff members to have any and all football equipment, irrespective of its possible exposure to any bacteria, completely sanitized. At this point in time, the weight room, training room, general use practice equipment, and linens have all been sanitized according to recommendations from the Michigan Department of Health and local medical staff. We believe it prudent to take the additional steps purely as a precaution.
All parents are encouraged to discuss this situation with their student(s). Further, students and families should be sure that students’ athletic clothes and equipment should be cleaned regularly. If you need additional information, we would encourage you to visit at: oakgov.com. It is important to note that officials from the Michigan Department of Health have indicated that, “We (THS) are attacking the situation as well as we can.” If there are changes in our procedures, we will advise at the earliest possible moment.
Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we address this situation.
Sincerely,
Mark Dziatczak, Principal


MRSA is known as a superbug because it’s resistant to most powerful drugs.

The infection is mainly spread through skin-to-skin contact.

MRSA is often called a staph infection and generally starts as a rash of small, red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites.

Sometimes the bacteria remains confined to the skin; however, it can be life-threatening if the infection burrows deep the body.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
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Drug-Resistant Staph Infections Rise Sharply
Could MRSA Become Deadlier Than AIDS?

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/Ne...TY&pageId=3.5.1
Last Edited: Thursday, 18 Oct 2007, 12:37 PM EDT
Created: Thursday, 18 Oct 2007, 10:10 AM EDT

By MyFox National and The Associated Press

MEREDITH, N.H. -- As the affliction gets more attention around the country, school officials are reporting two cases of staph infection at Inter-Lakes Junior-Senior High School in Meredith, N.H.

FOX News Channel reported Thursday that a 4-year-old girl, also in New Hampshire, died from the highly drug-resistant infection.

And at least two Connecticut high school students -- one in Weston and a second in Newtown -- have been diagnosed with a potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant staph infection, their respective school officials said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The school district's superintendent said the infection was being treated as if it is an antibiotic-resistant strain blamed for the death of a Virginia high school senior this week.

Ashton Bonds, 17, a senior at Staunton River High School in Bedford, Va., died Monday after being diagnosed with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, his mother said.

"I want people to know how sick it made my son," Veronica Bonds said.

And crews have worked to clean the locker rooms and gymnasium at Indiana's Richmond High School after a student there developed a staph infection this week.
Staph infections, including the serious MRSA strain, have spread through schools nationwide in recent weeks, according to health and education officials.

Last week, Inter-Lakes parents received a letter from the school informing them of the infection. It's commonly spread from skin-to-skin contact or by sharing objects. People with sores or open wounds are particularly at risk.

Last week, a 4-year-old from Boscawen, N.H., died of pneumonia, a complication of a staph infection.

This fall, eight football players at Nashua North (N.H.) High School were the first reported with staph infections. Another case was confirmed at Nashua South High School and Pinkerton Academy in Derry, N.H., said at least 15 football players also recently had skin infections.

What Is A Staph Infection? (From CDC Web Site)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems.
MRSA infections that occur in otherwise healthy people who have not in the past year been hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-associated (CA)-MRSA infections. These infections are usually skin infections, such as abscesses, boils, and other pus-filled lesions.

Deadlier Than AIDS?

More than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from a drug-resistant staph "superbug," the government reported in its first overall estimate of invasive disease caused by the germ.

Deaths tied to these infections may exceed those caused by AIDS, one public health expert said in the new study. The report showed just how far one form of the staph germ has spread beyond its traditional hospital setting.

The overall incidence rate was about 32 invasive infections per 100,000 people. That's an "astounding" figure, said an editorial in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, which published the study.

The researchers' estimates are extrapolated from 2005 surveillance data from nine mostly urban regions considered representative of the country. There were 5,287 invasive infections reported that year in people living in those regions, which would translate to an estimated 94,360 cases nationally, the researchers said.

Keep Your Hands Clean
The CDC advises people to keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand cleaner as the best way to prevent contracting an infection.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
Veteran
Community Associated MRSA link to Center for Disease Control.

CA-MRSA

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca.html

very informative
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
Veteran
SPOTLIGHT ON SUPERBUG CASES


High School Football Team Reports Five Infections (MyFoxTampa)
Two Conn. Students Infected (MyFoxNY)
Six N.C. Football Players Infected (MyFoxWGHP)
D.C. Student, Not Contagious, Back In Class (MyFoxDC)
Dallas Schools Scrub Down (MyFoxDFW)
Arizona Man Talks About His MRSA Struggles (MyFoxPhoenix)
Students, Parents Talk About Football Player's MRSA (MyFoxDetroit)
Staph Infection Victim Talks About Recovery (MyFoxAustin)
Ga. Boy Hospitalized With Staph Infection (MyFoxAtlanta)

Above headlines available at web address below.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/Ne...TY&pageId=3.5.1
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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chickmunk
Advanced Member
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Thanks Mrs. M. ! Plenty of info to think about! I'll be sure to remind the kids today to keep washing those hands and covering their sneezes (in spite of it being known as a contact-type of infection, I am still a little worried about it being airborne because doesn't it live in mucous membranes too?) Anyways, it's always good to be safe!
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Mrs.M
Veteran
http://www.wwj.com/pages/1107530.php?
Staph Hits School Locker Rooms


Southfield (WWJ) -- School gym locker rooms in southeast Michigan and all over the country are suspected to be the breeding ground for staph infections, including an antibiotic resistant strain, that are causing school districts to take new precautions, sterilize locker rooms and close gyms.

A Troy high school football player has been diagnosed with a drug-resistant staph infection and eight of his teammates reported a similar rash, the school district says.

As a result the school closed its physical education and varsity locker rooms, weight and training rooms, and interior walls on Wednesday so they could be disinfected.

The eight other players with similar skin irritations sought treatment, but had not been diagnosed with the disease, district spokesman Tim McAvoy said.

Staph infections and other cases of MRSA have been reported in the Brandon, Rochester, Utica, Capac and Grosse Pointe School Districts.

A spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community Health, TJ Bucholz, says the number of MRSA cases this year are fewer than last year.

The scare comes after a 17-year-old high school senior in Bedford, Va., died Monday after being diagnosed with MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

In North Carolina, officials say at least six football players at East Forsyth High School have the antibiotic-resistant staph infections. School officials say the first case was confirmed in early September. East Forsyth officials are sanitizing all locker rooms, cleaning sports equipment, and requiring all student athletes to shower.

Outbreaks continued around the country, including eight football players at Nashua North High School in New Hampshire were the first to be reported with staph infections. Pinkerton Academy in Derry said at least 15 football players also recently had skin infections.

In Virginia, Chesterfield County school official say three football players at James River High School have been treated recently for staph infections.

James River activities director Doug Bachman said the first case at the Chesterfield County school was in August and the most recent was about three weeks ago.

Infections have been recently been reported in school districts in states including West Virginia, Illinois, Ohio and Florida.

Meanwhile, Northern Arizona University researchers say they've discovered a new way to detect staph infections, including the deadly antibiotic-resistant varieties.

The new diagnostic tool, they tell radio station KNAU, identifies infections inside biofilms, which are communities of microorganisms bound together inside the body.

The researchers say biofilms cause more than 70 percent of community- and hospital-acquired infections.

NAU associate professor Jeff Leid says the new device will help physicians diagnose the staph infections more quickly.

Staph infections commonly spread from skin-to-skin contact or by sharing objects. People with sores or open wounds are particularly at risk.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
Veteran
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...EWS05/710190412
A DANGEROUS STRAIN

Schools take precautions amid new staph infections
October 19, 2007

BY GINA DAMRON, TINA LAM and CECILIA OLECK

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

Three new student cases of a potentially deadly type of staph infection have come to light in metro Detroit, and schools across the region are scrubbing down locker rooms and disinfecting sports equipment to prevent spreading the antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The infection also has been found in the Oakland County Jail, according to an undersheriff and a deputy's lawsuit.

A student at Rochester Reuther Middle School and two football players at Grosse Pointe South High have been diagnosed as having methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA -- which can cause mild skin irritations to more severe infections that can become deadly.

Students who have skin irritations that resemble those caused by the infection at high schools in Troy and Utica and an intermediate school in Ortonville are being tested, school officials said Thursday. A varsity football player at Troy High School who was believed to be infected was cleared Thursday, though he does have some form of a staph infection, said district spokesman Tim McAvoy.

School districts throughout Michigan and the nation were warning and reassuring parents this week, even as they disinfected locker rooms, weight rooms and athletic equipment and informed students about the importance of personal hygiene and keeping athletic gear cleaned. MRSA outbreaks have been reported across the country, with one high school student in Virginia dying Monday.

"It is important that parents know to have any infection that appears to have the symptoms of this ... cultured" and tested, said Debbi Hartman, spokeswoman for Rochester Community Schools.

More than 90,000 life-threatening illnesses and nearly 19,000 deaths are estimated to occur annually after an MRSA infection, according to a report released this week by doctors at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, also found that nearly 85% of MRSA cases were connected to health care settings.

But, health officials say, mild cases of MRSA are diagnosed all the time.

Michigan has had 222 outbreaks of the MRSA strain since the start of 2003, said T.J. Bucholz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community Health. Each outbreak represents several cases.

Staph bacteria can be found on a quarter of the population, said Carol Chenoweth, a University of Michigan physician specializing in infectious diseases. The bacteria can enter the body through open wounds or be spread through contact with bodily fluids, which can lead to infections, she said.

The problem with the MRSA strain is that it does not respond to penicillin or other antibiotics, though other drugs are used to treat it.

It lurks everywhere, particularly in moist, warm places where people are in close quarters, such as locker rooms and hospitals. It also can live on sweaty athletic gear, jerseys, used towels and doorknobs. It even lives on people in places such as noses and armpits, said Jeff Hageman, a CDC epidemiologist.

Unlike with diseases such as measles and rabies, doctors are not required to report each individual case of MRSA to state and county health officials, only clusters of cases.

Medical directors of Macomb and Wayne counties said there have been no clusters of MRSA there this year.

There are commonsense things people can do to prevent the spread of staph infections, Chenoweth said, including "not sharing items that are contaminated, such as ... towels and razors."

Washing hands frequently and keeping open wounds cleaned and bandaged are also measures that help stem the spread of staph infections.

Michigan State University's infectious diseases clinic sees several dozen cases a year, said Daniel Havlichek, professor of medicine and microbiology.

At Oakland University, specially treated rubberized flooring has been put in locker rooms and in the training room where athletes' injuries are treated, because of concern over communicable diseases, said Tom Ford, the university's athletic trainer. Dispensers with treated wipes have been placed in workout rooms so athletes can wipe down machines, he said.

MRSA isn't limited to hospitals and locker rooms. Oakland County Sheriff's Deputy Gordon Belanger said he has contracted MRSA infections multiple times while working at the county jail.

Now, he's suing Sheriff Michael Bouchard. Belanger's attorney, Christopher Trainor, filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday and said he plans to file a suit on behalf of another deputy.

Belanger, 55, said he was first diagnosed in November 2005, just weeks after a sewage backup flooded part of the jail, soaking carpets. He said the carpets were cleaned, but not replaced for weeks.

Belanger, who still works at the jail, said conditions are deplorable, with inmates sleeping on dirty mattresses. Inmates leave the jail on a daily basis with various infections, and often they're taken to the North Oakland Medical Center for treatment, he said.

Undersheriff Michael McCabe called Belanger's suit "frivolous." He said bottles of hand sanitizer are located throughout the facility and deputies are given protective gloves. McCabe said that of the 20,000 inmates who have been booked in the jail this year, 58 have been diagnosed with MRSA.

"We don't get to pick and choose who comes in the jail," McCabe said. MRSA "is very prevalent. There's no way to prevent it. We just try to manage it the best we can."

Contact GINA DAMRON at 248-351-3293 or gdamron@freepress.com. Staff writers Korie Wilkins, Robin Erb, Christina Hall and Ruby L. Bailey contributed to this report.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Al Beabak
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Latest cases this morning have 2 Walled Lake schools closed today for delousing. 1 middle school and 1 high school.
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Mrs.M
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Walled Lake Central (Walled Lake) and Smart Middle School (Commerce Township)
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
Veteran
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...0396/1026/LOCAL
Friday, October 19, 2007
Troy infection is not MRSA
High school reopens; Rochester reports case at Reuther Middle School.
Shawn D. Lewis / The Detroit News
TROY -- School officials say a staph infection that caused the shutdown of Troy High School's athletic facilities on Wednesday was not the drug-resistant MRSA, but that potentially dangerous disease was confirmed Thursday in two more cases in Rochester and Walled Lake.

"The earlier report of a confirmed case of MRSA in the Troy School District now shows that it is not MRSA, so there are no confirmed cases in Troy," said district spokesman Tim McAvoy.

Another case of MRSA -- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -- was confirmed Thursday at Reuther Middle School in Rochester. And Amy Peterman, president of the Walled Lake Consolidated School board, said they had a confirmed case of MRSA at Clifford H. Smart Middle School.

Staph infections also have been reported in the Brandon, Utica and Capac public school districts, but they have not yet been confirmed as MRSA. Three football players at Grosse Pointe South High School had staph infections three weeks ago, said Alice Kosinski, vice president of the Grosse Pointe Public School System board of education. She did not know what strain of staph they had contracted.

The MRSA bacterium was responsible for the death of a 17-year-old Virginia teen on Monday.

Students at Troy High School returned to disinfected classrooms Thursday after a suspected case of the potentially deadly MRSA and eight other staph infections were reported by students, said district spokesman Tim McAvoy.

Meanwhile, school districts across Metro Detroit are sanitizing their buildings, from handrails and doorknobs to athletic equipment.

"I want the schools to continue to be vigilant about cleaning the schools and I want to be reassured that there will be no cutbacks in cleaning," said Renee Lower, who has two children in the Troy district. "All it takes is one person not to do a proper job, and then we'll have a problem."

"Whenever there is a reported case of an infectious disease, we take all due precautions and notify parents, just as we would with a report of measles, rubella or impetigo," said Hildy Corbett, spokeswoman for Utica Community Schools.

There have been no reports of MRSA outbreaks from county health departments in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb. Health departments are not required to report individual cases to the Michigan Department of Community Health unless there is a cluster or outbreak of at least three cases in one area.

"We have had 15 reported outbreaks so far this year, with 52 in 2006 and 77 in 2005," said T.J. Bucholz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community Health. "We're seeing MRSA primarily in athletics where sports are contact in nature, where you're likely to get abrasions."

Marcus Zervos, division head of infectious diseases at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, said the infection is not new, and that most people already carry it on their bodies. But in recent years, MRSA has increased in frequency and become more resistant to common antibiotics.

"We saw it more commonly in hospitals and nursing homes where people had compromised medical conditions," he said. "But in the last five years, we've seen two very alarming trends."

But Troy parent Laurie Emerling, who has two children in the district, is not worried.

"I know the schools have done everything to make sure our kids are safe," she said.

A federal report this week found up to 90,000 people a year in U.S. get the drug-resistant bug and 19,000 die.

You can reach Shawn D. Lewis at (248) 647-8825.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
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Schools close on staph fears
October 19, 2007

BY LORI HIGGINS and MANDY BURTON

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

More than 500 students at Clawson High School were sent home at 11:15 this morning after school officials learned a student has been diagnosed as having methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

The students were sent home as a precautionary measure while the district disinfects the school, officials say.

Two Walled Lake schools are closed today because of suspected staph infections in students, district spokeswoman Judy Evola said this morning.

Clifford Smart Middle School and Walled Lake Central High School will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, Evola said. Although the two cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus haven't been "100% confirmed," she said, the district is "erring on the side of precaution."

"We found out about this late in the day yesterday, but we decided to continue to clean all public parts of the building thoroughly," Evola said.

The Clifford Smart student who is suspected to have the infection was a football player, Evola said, so locker rooms and practice areas will be a focus of that cleaning process.

The district expects both schools to reopen Monday.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Mrs.M
Veteran
http://video.aol.com/video/news-on-the-loo...r-staph/2004484

Video is interesting.

CHS played WLC on 9/6 and 9/7

SHS played WLC on 10/04 and 10/05

FHS has not played them.
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Must Be Psychic
Advanced Member
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SHS mailout:

Parents,

The following note was sent to LPS staff regarding MSRA from the central office administration. It is our belief, and the adminstration of Livonia Public Schools, that this information should also be shared with parents.

S. Archibald

MRSA INFORMATION

There has been widespread concern regarding MRSA --a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus—staph skin infection. There have been no reports of MRSA outbreaks from county health departments in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb. Health departments are not required to report individual cases to the Michigan Department of Community Health unless there is a cluster or outbreak of at least three cases in one area.

Whenever there is a confirmed case of an infectious disease, such as MRSA, in Livonia Public Schools, we take all due precautions and notify parents, just as we would with a report of measles, rubella or impetigo.

“Staph bacteria can be found on a quarter of the population,” said Carol Chenoweth, a University of Michigan physician specializing in infectious diseases. “The bacteria can enter the body through open wounds or be spread through contact with bodily fluids, which can lead to infections. There are commonsense things people can do to prevent the spread of staph infections,” Chenoweth said, including "not sharing items that are contaminated, such as ... towels and razors." (Detroit News October 19, 2007)

Due to this concern, anyone who exhibits any skin rash is currently being tested for the infection. In Troy they had at least two misdiagnoses regarding this type of staph. Simply having a rash does not mean that it is or will develop into MRSA. In Livonia Public Schools all athletic areas are routinely cleaned and disinfected. We are increasing our attention to these areas and other areas in our buildings to be sure all areas are disinfected and cleaned. We will have a new antibacterial cleaner in the District on Monday which is a specific disinfectant cleaner for MRSA. We are cleaning all athletic areas at both high schools and middle schools (LCTC too) and are working on disinfecting our busses. While there are no indications of any cases at elementary schools, we are making the MRSA specific disinfectant available at the elementary level. In addition we are making an effort to be sure all areas are cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis.

The best preventative measure is for students to wash their hands regularly and practice good hygiene. We have soap dispensers in all district rest rooms and locker rooms to assist in helping all students stay healthy.
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Mrs.M
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Received the same email from Riley today. Proactive measures hopefully will prevent cases in LPS.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Deleted User
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Must Be Psychic
Oct 19 2007, 02:54 PM
SHS mailout:

Parents,

The following note was sent to LPS staff regarding MSRA from the central office administration. It is our belief, and the adminstration of Livonia Public Schools, that this information should also be shared with parents.

S. Archibald

MRSA INFORMATION

There has been widespread concern regarding MRSA --a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus—staph skin infection. There have been no reports of MRSA outbreaks from county health departments in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb. Health departments are not required to report individual cases to the Michigan Department of Community Health unless there is a cluster or outbreak of at least three cases in one area.

Whenever there is a confirmed case of an infectious disease, such as MRSA, in Livonia Public Schools, we take all due precautions and notify parents, just as we would with a report of measles, rubella or impetigo.

“Staph bacteria can be found on a quarter of the population,” said Carol Chenoweth, a University of Michigan physician specializing in infectious diseases. “The bacteria can enter the body through open wounds or be spread through contact with bodily fluids, which can lead to infections. There are commonsense things people can do to prevent the spread of staph infections,” Chenoweth said, including "not sharing items that are contaminated, such as ... towels and razors." (Detroit News October 19, 2007)

Due to this concern, anyone who exhibits any skin rash is currently being tested for the infection. In Troy they had at least two misdiagnoses regarding this type of staph. Simply having a rash does not mean that it is or will develop into MRSA. In Livonia Public Schools all athletic areas are routinely cleaned and disinfected. We are increasing our attention to these areas and other areas in our buildings to be sure all areas are disinfected and cleaned. We will have a new antibacterial cleaner in the District on Monday which is a specific disinfectant cleaner for MRSA. We are cleaning all athletic areas at both high schools and middle schools (LCTC too) and are working on disinfecting our busses. While there are no indications of any cases at elementary schools, we are making the MRSA specific disinfectant available at the elementary level. In addition we are making an effort to be sure all areas are cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis.

The best preventative measure is for students to wash their hands regularly and practice good hygiene. We have soap dispensers in all district rest rooms and locker rooms to assist in helping all students stay healthy.

If some child does have MSRA, will the whole school be notified of just the class that the child is in? In the past, only the children in the particular class with the infectious disease are notified.
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Nikki
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http://www.parents.com/parents/story.jsp?s...91605315114.xml

Excerpt from "Got Germs?" Parents Magazine, November 2007.

Germy Zone: Water Fountains

A typical drinking fountain contains more harmful germs than a public toilet seat, according to a recent study at elementary schools by NSF International, a nonprofit health and safety organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kids tend to touch the spigot with their fingers or their mouth, passing on germs to the next person who drinks. Cold and flu viruses can live on the metal for up to five hours.

Stay safe: Teach your child to keep his lips (and fingers) off the spigot and to let the water run for a few seconds before sipping. "That helps wash away harmful organisms," says Robert Donofrio, director of the microbiology lab at NSF International. Or take along a separate water bottle -- just make sure he's the only one who drinks from it.
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Nikki
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http://www.nsf.org/business/newsroom/press....asp?p_id=15687

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 18, 2007

Scrub Club Helps Kids Fight MRSA
Website Teaches Children the Importance of Washing their Hands

Ann Arbor, MI – A recent outbreak of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has made proper handwashing and personal hygiene a priority for parents, teachers and medical professionals alike. NSF International today announced a resource that can help children fight against MRSA – http://www.scrubclub.org.

MRSA is known to cause "staph" infections that are resistant to treatment with common antibiotics. These dangerous bacteria are transmitted mainly through human hands. If a person doesn't wash with soap and water, the bacteria can spread.

The Scrub Club website was developed by NSF International, a non-profit organization committed to public health and safety, to provide a fun way for kids to learn proper handwashing techniques to fight harmful infections such as MRSA. The Scrub Club "soaper-heroes" teach kids the six steps to proper handwashing:

Hot Shot" and "Chill" combine to make the warm water essential for proper handwashing;
"Squeaks" turns into various forms of soap;
"Taki" becomes a clock that counts down the required 20 seconds for proper handwashing;
"Scruff" reminds kids to clean around their nails;
"Tank" turns into a sink to rinse away the germs; and
"P.T." transforms into paper towels.
“By teaching children the importance of proper handwashing with the help of the Scrub Club, we can make a difference in preventing the spread of MRSA and other serious infections,” said NSF International Vice President William Fisher.

The Scrub Club includes Webisodes, interactive games, music, downloadable activities for kids, educational materials for teachers and program information for parents. For more information about the Scrub Club please contact William Fisher at 734.827.6824 or fisher@nsf.org.


About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.
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Nikki
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Watch a "Scrub Club Webisode" here. "The Good, the Bac and the Ugly" :lol: :

http://www.scrubclub.org/webisodes/webisodeOne.aspx
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