Reprint from the Progress Times - November 2, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

MRSA cases cause concern for school districts

 

Last Monday, the La Joya ISD Head Nurse received confirmation from a Mission Hospital ER nurse that a female 8th grade student from Ann Richards Middle School was infected with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), a strain of the more-commonly known Staph infection. The next day LJISD received confirmation of two additional cases of students in Zapata Elementary and Memorial Middle School infected with MRSA.

The recent spate of cases has led the district, as well as Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD), to review their policies and take new precautions to ensure the well being of their students.

LJISD District Emergency Operations Team met the same day as the first report to discuss a plan of action and decided that the district would send a letter home to parents notifying them of the situation. They also decided to send extra custodial and maintenance workers to assist with the disinfection process at Ann Richards Middle School. After the additional reports of outbreak surfaced the district mandated the same cleaning process be done at every school in the district and asked that all school athletes take their clothes home and get them washed. Additionally, each school is handling the washing of their school uniforms, making sure they are washed with hot water and bleach.

The response was a collaborative effort between the district and the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department.

"We’ve worked hand in hand with La Joya," said Health and Human Services Director Eddie Olivarez. "The county is acting in a support role to various entities in this matter. We’ve helped La Joya, the Valley View District, PSJA and several other districts in the area."

The district also held a parent meeting on Thursday, October 25, in the Ann Richards Middle School cafeteria to address any questions parents might have had. A local physician was on hand to help field any specific medical questions and inform parents on what they can do to prevent the spread of MRSA.

In response to the situation, MCISD decided to send their own letters home, despite experiencing no cases of MRSA to date.

"We wanted to let our parents know that the recent publicity regarding MRSA is no reason to be alarmed," said Oscar Rodriguez, superintendent. "At the same time I also wanted to let parents know that they play a part in controlling any health related issues at our campuses."

The letter includes a tip sheet with information about staph infections and MRSA, as well as some topics to address with children such as hand-washing.

According to Olivarez, the causes and solutions to the infections are fairly simple.

"MRSA is very common. There simply needs to be awareness in the community that it is very preventable."

Hector Contreras, Infection Control Manager at Mission Regional Hospital, agrees.

"Staph bacteria is commonly found on the skin of healthy people. Occasionally it can get in the body and cause infection," said Contreras. "Staph viruses are commonly found in 30 percent of people and are usually transmitted person to person. MRSA is a staph that is resistant to more common antibiotics such as penicillin and it is well documented that in gyms and jails, there are often outbreaks of MRSA."

Contreras went on to explain how MRSA can be prevented and treated.

"There are well documented prevention methods. Make sure you wash your hands because MRSA can be found in a lot of places," said Contreras. "If you believe you have MRSA you need to see a physician. You don’t want it to be left unattended."