MRSA discovered in Greencastle
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Hoover

A student in the Greencastle Antrim School District has contracted the staph infection MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). Officials notified parents on Friday with a notice sent home with all students.

C. Gregrory Hoover, Acting Superintendent, said that after consulting school doctors, the student's doctor and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, he has been assured students and staff are in no more danger than before.

"Please know that we are taking every precaution in this matter and will continue to keep you informed if it is warranted," he wrote in the letter.

Robert Crider, Director of Secondary Education, said that Friday the parent notified the school of the child's infection. For privacy reasons, the district is not releasing information on which school building the child attended.

The child is not hospitalized, he said.

The administration checked that its cleaning products did indeed kill the infection and custodians cleaned areas that could be of concern in the four buildings, he continued.

"We will be giving training in the near future to our custodial staff to give information on the correct use of the products," Crider said. "We want to heighten awareness to prohibit the spread of MRSA."

MRSA in the news

MRSA has been in the national news in recent weeks. The bacteria is resistant to certain antibiotics. It manifests itself in pus-lesions in places not normally associated with acne and pimples. Anyone with symptoms should not disturb the lesion but consult a physician. In its worst cases, MRSA may result in death.

The Center for Disease Control reports that MRSA usually occurs in hospital and healthcare facilities. If contracted elsewhere, it becomes a community associated infection. Some people at risk are athletes, military recruits, children and prisoners.

The first weapons of prevention are washing hands, keeping cuts and scrapes clean and covered, avoiding contact with other people's wounds and not sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

Dr. Bridget Hilliard, a physician at Antrim Family Medicine, said MRSA is most often seen on the extremities. When caught early it is treated as a local skin infection. It the infection becomes systemic it enters the bloodstream, with dire consequences, but that is rare.

She said MRSA usually starts out looking like a red pimple that gets bigger and is painful. A culture of the wound reveals the type of bacteria and which antibiotic which will kill it. Early treatment is effective.

Basic hygiene is key.

"Cover any open area, an acne pimple or cut with a bandage," Hilliard said.

Information on MRSA may be found on the G-ASD webpage www. greencastle.k12.pa.us