Link: STLtoday – News – Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro has avoided the staph outbreak that has infected inmates in the St. Louis County Jail.
That’s no coincidence, jail and health officials say.
One of the most dangerous forms of staph, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, has infiltrated dozens of jails across the country this year. The St. Louis County Jail has treated 41 cases of MRSA this year, up from 17 cases in the three previous years combined. Dennis Diehl, director of the Jefferson County Health Department, says staph infections have been diagnosed at the Jefferson County Jail in the past, but usually no more than one or two at a time. He said officials have worked hard to keep it under control.
"We’ve had a number of residents there at different times who have complained of staph infections," Diehl said. "It’s a fairly common problem at a lot of different institutions that are congregate settings. I think the jail here has done a good job of being proactive at what can be done."
Diehl says that includes ensuring that linens and jumpsuits are properly washed, that appropriate sanitation measures are in place and encouraging inmates to exercise good personal hygiene.
