Last Updated: 11/29/07 MRSA BENTONVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

WHAT IS MRSA? “MRSA” stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. –Some people call it “MURsah”

WHAT IS MRSA? Methicillin (an antibiotic) Resistant (no longer works) Staphylococcus aureus (a common bacterium)

Is Staphylococcus aureus the same as “staph”? Staphylococcus aureus is one of many species of staph. When we talk about MRSA and staph in this presentation we will use the word “staph”.

Does staph always make people sick? No, people live with staph bacteria in their nose and on their skin without getting sick.

When staph makes us sick, how does it happen? A staph infection can start when there is an opening in the skin that allows staph bacteria to enter the body and start the infection process.

What does a staph infection look like? Staph can vary considerably in appearance. It may start out looking like a pimple, boil, or rash. The infection often contains pus. It may be swollen or red.

What does a staph infection look like?

More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections

What does a staph infection look like?

How does staph spread? People spread staph by direct skin- to-skin contact.

How else does staph spread? Staph also lives on surfaces and spreads when you touch contaminated objects or surfaces and then touch something else.

How do I protect myself? Wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible to break the cycle of contamination.

How to wash your hands: 1. Wet your hands with warm water. 2. Apply a generous amount of soap. 3. Wash palms, backs of hands, wrists, fingers and under fingernails. Rub hands for 20 seconds. ( 20 seconds is singing Happy Birthday twice) 4. Rinse hands. (Turn faucet on using paper towel). 5. Dry hands with a new paper towel. 6. Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.

What else will protect me from staph? Wear disposable gloves when appropriate

What else will protect me from staph? Bathe or shower every day – This will reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin. Keep your fingernails cut short – Less bacteria can grow under short nails.

See your Doctor Immediately  Swelling  Pain  Redness or red streaks radiating from the wound site  Fever  General ill feeling If you have:

See your Doctor Immediately If you find that staph infection is passing from one family member to another, or If 2 or more family members get a staph infection at the same time.

What are the signs of infection? Pus Tenderness Swelling Redness Warmth of the Skin

Your doctor may prescribe Warm compresses Incision and drainage –(I&D) the doctor may cut and drain the abscess Antibiotics Or a combination of the above

Keep your staph infection covered with a clean, dry bandage. Change the bandage at least twice a day or when it becomes wet from drainage. I Have a Staph Infection

What You Need: – Gloves-disposable – Soap & running water – Bandage/gauze – Plastic trash bag How To Change Your Bandage

Taking Care of Wounds that are Draining or Have Not Healed How to change your bandage: Gather your supplies  Plastic trash bag  Plastic gloves  Soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer  Bandage  Q-tip Wash your hands with soap and warm water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Put on clean gloves just before touching the skin around the wound. Follow the directions from the nurse or doctor for changing the bandage. Throw away used bandages in the trash bag. Throw away any dirty supplies, such as Q-tips, in the trash bag. Take off the plastic gloves and put them in the trash bag. Close the trash bag and put the bag in the common garbage. Wash hands again with soap and hot water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Put on clean gloves. Apply new dressing. While changing your bandage: Don’t touch other parts of your body. Don’t touch your surroundings-bed, sink, faucet. Don’t touch another person. When to change your bandage: As often as the doctor or nurse tell you-at least twice a day. Anytime you can see pus or drainage on the bandage.

Yes, we know you were wearing gloves, still…wash your hands before and after. I Have a Staph Infection Wash your hands before and after changing bandages.

REMEMBER Hand washing is the most effective way to stop the spread of infectious disease.

STAPH Don’t take it home with you.

Cleaning Surfaces Contaminated with Staph Classrooms Bathrooms Lunchrooms

Staph on Clothes* Staph can live on any kind of cloth: – uniforms – towels – wash cloths * S.aureus and MRSA has been found to survive on cotton fabric for 3 months

Chlorine bleach is the best way to kill germs in the laundry. Use chlorine bleach in your wash when possible. – 6 ounces ( ¾ ) cup bleach to a standard size washer Laundry

Time wash cycle for at least twenty minutes. Load clothes loosely in the washer so that they can move freely during the wash cycle. The amount of motion and the length of washing time both help remove bacteria from clothing at any water temperature. Laundry

Disinfecting Bathrooms & Surfaces Cleaning surfaces with detergent-based cleaners or an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered disinfectant according to the manufacturer’s instructions is effective at removing MRSA from the environment.

Cleaning Please follow the MRSA Cleaning Procedure. When MRSA skin infections occur, cleaning and disinfection should be performed on surfaces that are likely to contact uncovered or poorly covered infections. It is important to read the instruction labels on all cleaners to make sure they are used safely and appropriately. Environmental cleaners and disinfectants should not be used to treat infections. The EPA provides a list of EPA-registered products effective against MRSA:

Protection When Staff or Students are Infected Keep your hands clean by washing with soap and warm water or using an alcohol hand gel. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages. Avoid sharing personal items such as make-up, towels or razors.

Questions? Please visit the website below for more information: Steve Potts, Executive Director of Human Resources: