Link: Staph infection outbreaks worry schools
RICHMOND — Schools across the region are reporting outbreaks of staph infections, including an antibiotic-resistant strain, prompting officials to issue reminders about the importance of thorough handwashing and other preventive measures.
Many of the infections are being spread in gyms and locker rooms, where football players and other athletes — perhaps suffering from cuts or abrasions — share sports equipment, officials say. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria infections generally are not life-threatening.
However, the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain can be especially stubborn. MRSA, pronounced "mersa," resists treatment with penicillin and related antibiotics but can be treated with other drugs. MRSA got its foothold in hospitals and in recent years has spread to other community settings, including schools.
In Virginia, a Newport News high school closed its weight room Thursday after at least four students were infected — at least one of them with MRSA, local school and health officials said. The MRSA patient, a football player, was hospitalized Sunday and released Wednesday.
