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State told to step up efforts against staph ‘superbug'
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By Angie Hutschreider
angieh@newstribune.com
Gov. Matt Blunt has asked the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to further educate the public on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a staph infection labeled as a “superbug” because of its resistance some antibiotics.
At a press conference Thursday morning, Blunt said he'd directed the department to begin posting more information about the infection on its Web site, www.dhss.mo.gov.
At least six school districts cross the country have reported deadly infections of MRSA.
And last week, the Jefferson City Public School District announced cases of staph infections in two students.
“Panic is not an appropriate response to MRSA, but safety is,” Blunt said. “The good news is that a few hygiene habits can help prevent infection.”
Frequent handwashing, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and showering immediately after exercising or participating in sports is recommended.
Other recommendations include:
* Covering cuts and scrapes with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
* Avoid sharing personal items like razors and towels.
* Maintaining a cleaning schedule for items that are frequently touched or come in direct contact with human skin.
State health department officials say that the MRSA infection is not something new, but that it has gotten more attention following the deaths of a 17-year-old from Virginia, a preschooler from New Hampshire and an 11-year-old from Mississippi. Missouri does not require reporting of MRSA.
Eddie Hedrick, an MRSA expert from the department, said there have been MRSA cases and small infection outbreaks in Missouri schools over the past several years.
“Those (infections) have been successfully contained through coordination and cooperation between the schools, local and state public health and medical communities,” Hedrick said.
The information on the health department's Web site and other educational materials are aimed to help with safety and prevention everywhere from daycare centers to colleges and universities.
Though the infection has proven to be deadly, some antibiotics can treat it if it's caught and treatment begins early enough.
“It is proven that one of the key contributing factors in bacteria becoming resistant to common antibiotics is the improper or incomplete use of antibiotics,” Hedrick said.
“Incompletion can lead to those bacteria not only staying alive, but becoming stronger and eventually able to better resist that particular antibiotic. When this happens often enough, over a period of time, a new antibiotic-resistant type of bacteria is created.
“This likely is what happened with MRSA.”
At a press conference Thursday morning, Blunt said he'd directed the department to begin posting more information about the infection on its Web site, www.dhss.mo.gov.
At least six school districts cross the country have reported deadly infections of MRSA.
And last week, the Jefferson City Public School District announced cases of staph infections in two students.
“Panic is not an appropriate response to MRSA, but safety is,” Blunt said. “The good news is that a few hygiene habits can help prevent infection.”
Frequent handwashing, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and showering immediately after exercising or participating in sports is recommended.
Other recommendations include:
* Covering cuts and scrapes with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
* Avoid sharing personal items like razors and towels.
* Maintaining a cleaning schedule for items that are frequently touched or come in direct contact with human skin.
State health department officials say that the MRSA infection is not something new, but that it has gotten more attention following the deaths of a 17-year-old from Virginia, a preschooler from New Hampshire and an 11-year-old from Mississippi. Missouri does not require reporting of MRSA.
Eddie Hedrick, an MRSA expert from the department, said there have been MRSA cases and small infection outbreaks in Missouri schools over the past several years.
“Those (infections) have been successfully contained through coordination and cooperation between the schools, local and state public health and medical communities,” Hedrick said.
The information on the health department's Web site and other educational materials are aimed to help with safety and prevention everywhere from daycare centers to colleges and universities.
Though the infection has proven to be deadly, some antibiotics can treat it if it's caught and treatment begins early enough.
“It is proven that one of the key contributing factors in bacteria becoming resistant to common antibiotics is the improper or incomplete use of antibiotics,” Hedrick said.
“Incompletion can lead to those bacteria not only staying alive, but becoming stronger and eventually able to better resist that particular antibiotic. When this happens often enough, over a period of time, a new antibiotic-resistant type of bacteria is created.
“This likely is what happened with MRSA.”
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