Link: Columbus cases of staph infection rising – Science.
An aggressive strain of the common staph infection – also known as MRSA – is popping up around Columbus.
The infectious critter is a strain of staphylococcus aureus bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics, drugs used to kill bacteria or slow their growth. MRSA infections are most commonly seen in health care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Recently, however, cases have been reported in Columbus residents who have not had recent exposure to these health -care facilities.
MRSA is considered a class C infection and is not on the Ohio Department of Health’s list of reportable diseases. This is because class C infections are "innocent until proven guilty": The ill are screened and asked to have limited contact with others until the test results come back. If positive, more intense treatment and quarantine measures are taken while results negative for a disease, provide patients more lenient control.
The disease is, however, on Ohio Department of Health’s list of diseases of public health concern needing timely response, because outbreaks of MRSA have been reported to Ohio Department of Health and an epidemic spread has been established, according to documents from the Ohio Department of Health’s public affairs office.
Kristopher Weiss, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health, said that in instances which more than two people who can be associated with each other contract the infection, the Ohio Department of Health considers this a community outbreak.
