Flu season and MRSA fears: Facts and tips

Flu season generally begins in late October and lasts through January. This year, there is the added worry of the methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus (or MRSA, pronounced "mersa") staph infection. The following information is supplied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) and the National Institutes of Health. One tip in common for helping contain both the flu bug and the MRSA staph infection: frequent handwashing with soap and water.

MRSA facts from the Centers for Disease Control

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.

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?

While 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:

• Crowding
• Contact (frequent skin-to-skin)
• Compromised skin (cuts or abrasions)
• Contaminated items and surfaces
• Cleanliness (lack of)

How do I protect myself from getting MRSA?

• Practice 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);
• Cover skin trauma such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage until healed;
• Avoid sharing personal items that come into contact with your bare skin; use a barrier (e.g., clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment such as gymnastic equipment;
• Maintain 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.
• Environmental cleaners and disinfectants should not be used to treat infections.

Advice on flu prevention

• Encourage staff and students to wash their hands regularly using soap and warm water for 15–20 seconds. Dry hands with paper towels or automatic hand dryers if possible
• Do not give aspirin to a child or teenager who has the flu. Reye's syndrome, a condition that affects the nerves, sometimes develops in children and teenagers who are recovering from the flu. The syndrome often begins in young people after they take aspirin to get rid of fever or pain
• The flu can be spread from coughs and sneezes. Make sure tissues are available in all classrooms
• Schools may be required by their local health departments to report flu absences when they reach a locally determined number
• Closure of individual schools in the event of an outbreak has not proven to be an effective way of stopping the flu, but that decision should be made by the appropriate school officials based on other considerations
• Schools should excuse ill students from sports activities, choir or any other activity that may involve close contact
• Clean commonly used surfaces such as door handles, handrails, eating surfaces and desks. Bleach solutions and commercial disinfectants are appropriate