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1. What is MRSA?

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. MRSA is resistant to some antibiotics.

2. What is Staphylococcus aureus?

It is a common type of bacteria. Most refer to these bacteria as staph (pronounced staff). It is normal to find different types of staph bacteria on the skin and in the nose. It is also found in our lungs and intestines.

3. 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 (i.e., the back of the neck, groin, buttocks, armpits, and - for men - the beard area).

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.

4. 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 (i.e., towels and used bandages).

5. 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 five C's, are as follows:

• Crowding
• Frequent skin-to-skin contact
• Compromised skin (i.e., cuts or abrasions)
• Contaminated items and surfaces
• Lack of cleanliness

Locations where the five Cs are common include schools, dormitories, military barracks, households, correctional facilities, and day care centers.

6. How do I protect myself from getting MRSA?

You can protect yourself by:

• Practicing good hygiene (i.e., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and showering immediately after participating in exercise or playing sports)
• Covering skin trauma such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage until healed
• Avoiding sharing personal items (i.e., towels, razors) that come into contact with your bare skin
• Using a barrier (i.e., 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

7. Should schools close because of an MRSA infection?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 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.

8. 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. Bleach and water is an inexpensive way to clean, and spraying it on surfaces is very effective. 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.

9. Should the entire school community be notified of every MRSA infection?

According to the CDC, 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.

10. Should the school be notified that my child has an MRSA infection?

Consult with your school about its policy for notification of skin infections.

11. 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 (i.e., sports) until their infections are healed, however as long as the infection site is well covered, the student may attend regular classes.

12. Is it safe to have contact with persons who are infected with MRSA or those who may be carriers?

If basic hygiene precautions are followed, MRSA carriers are not a hazard to others including their family and friends.