GarnetTigerMom
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2007
- Messages
- 4,951
- Reaction score
- 1
MRSA on the rise; local officials taking action
21 public schools in western Virginia were closed for cleaning Wednesday after a student died from a suspected antibiotic-resistant Staph infection, known as MRSA.
17-year-old Ashton Bonds of Bedford County, died Monday. With MRSA cases on the rise, WAVY.com wanted to know what local schools are doing to keep kids safe.
The Virginia Department of Education sent a message to all public schools with information on MRSA. The message explained what MRSA is and how you can prevent it and keep it from spreading.
Some Hampton Roads schools are taking it a step further and passing along the information to parents - to hopefully prevent another tragedy.
Ashton Bond's family had just ordered his senior pictures. He was planning his future. Then somehow he got the skin infection, MRSA and ended up in the hospital.
"He was dying a little every day. He laid there with that bacteria and the doctors were real frustrated, real frustrated," explained Ashton's grandfather. He says the source of his doctor's frustration stemmed from antibiotics not working.
After Ashton's death, schools in his hometown went into lock down and started sanitizing everything.
School and health officials in Hampton Roads started talking too.
"I think the death of that young man in Bedford just kind of bubbled everything to the surface," says Portsmouth School Health Supervisor, Fran Gray. She says nothing will change as far as cleaning the schools and is working on a letter to send home to parents, informing them of the disease.
Schools will stress two important things that can help stop the spread of MRSA. "Good hand washing and good wound care. If you have a boo boo you need to keep it covered and keep it clean."
Cuts and scrapes are where bacteria can enter the body and start an infection. That's why athletic teams are at greater risk.
WAVY.com talked to the Grassfield High School Athletic Director Monday. He says they also stress not sharing towels, gym clothes or razors and have strict rules for weight rooms.
Even a person who looks perfectly healthy - like Ashton Bonds - can pass along the bacteria.
Ironically, Kevin Bussiere - the man in charge of infection control at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk is now battling a dangerous Staph infection of his own. Bussiere has MSSA - Methacillan Sensitive Staph Aureus and is struggling to breath. He's scheduled for heart surgery next month.
MSSA is slightly different then MRSA or Methacillan Resistant Staph Auerus. It's caused by the same bacteria, but MSSA responds better to antibiotics. With that said, Kevin can no longer walk up or down stairs, nor can he bend over to tie his shoes because the bacteria he contracted destroyed one of his heart valves. Good news is, there's an 80% chance doctors can fix it.
"If not I'm going to have to get a replacement and be on anti-coagulant therapy and have the rest of my life monitored and my mortality will be affected," explains Kevin.
Doctors say what you need to look out for are pimples or boils that don't heal after they've drained. Remember to Cover cuts and cover yourself by washing your hands - a lot.
"People do not wash their hands long enough to kill the bacteria or don't scrub hard enough or use enough friction in order to get rid of the bacteria, so a hand sanitizer has ingredients that will instantly kill the bacteria if you have been exposed to it," warns Dr. Katherine Treherne.
Doctor Katherine Treherne preaches the importance of good hygiene over and over and Kevin tells his story as often as he can too to warn others.
If you think you have MRSA call your doctor. School health officials say if your child has any kind of infection let them know so they can help take care of the child and protect others in the class.
You can get MRSA anywhere, but doctors say those most at risk are children in daycares, people in jail and athletes because these people spend a lot of time in close contact.
21 public schools in western Virginia were closed for cleaning Wednesday after a student died from a suspected antibiotic-resistant Staph infection, known as MRSA.
17-year-old Ashton Bonds of Bedford County, died Monday. With MRSA cases on the rise, WAVY.com wanted to know what local schools are doing to keep kids safe.
The Virginia Department of Education sent a message to all public schools with information on MRSA. The message explained what MRSA is and how you can prevent it and keep it from spreading.
Some Hampton Roads schools are taking it a step further and passing along the information to parents - to hopefully prevent another tragedy.
Ashton Bond's family had just ordered his senior pictures. He was planning his future. Then somehow he got the skin infection, MRSA and ended up in the hospital.
"He was dying a little every day. He laid there with that bacteria and the doctors were real frustrated, real frustrated," explained Ashton's grandfather. He says the source of his doctor's frustration stemmed from antibiotics not working.
After Ashton's death, schools in his hometown went into lock down and started sanitizing everything.
School and health officials in Hampton Roads started talking too.
"I think the death of that young man in Bedford just kind of bubbled everything to the surface," says Portsmouth School Health Supervisor, Fran Gray. She says nothing will change as far as cleaning the schools and is working on a letter to send home to parents, informing them of the disease.
Schools will stress two important things that can help stop the spread of MRSA. "Good hand washing and good wound care. If you have a boo boo you need to keep it covered and keep it clean."
Cuts and scrapes are where bacteria can enter the body and start an infection. That's why athletic teams are at greater risk.
WAVY.com talked to the Grassfield High School Athletic Director Monday. He says they also stress not sharing towels, gym clothes or razors and have strict rules for weight rooms.
Even a person who looks perfectly healthy - like Ashton Bonds - can pass along the bacteria.
Ironically, Kevin Bussiere - the man in charge of infection control at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk is now battling a dangerous Staph infection of his own. Bussiere has MSSA - Methacillan Sensitive Staph Aureus and is struggling to breath. He's scheduled for heart surgery next month.
MSSA is slightly different then MRSA or Methacillan Resistant Staph Auerus. It's caused by the same bacteria, but MSSA responds better to antibiotics. With that said, Kevin can no longer walk up or down stairs, nor can he bend over to tie his shoes because the bacteria he contracted destroyed one of his heart valves. Good news is, there's an 80% chance doctors can fix it.
"If not I'm going to have to get a replacement and be on anti-coagulant therapy and have the rest of my life monitored and my mortality will be affected," explains Kevin.
Doctors say what you need to look out for are pimples or boils that don't heal after they've drained. Remember to Cover cuts and cover yourself by washing your hands - a lot.
"People do not wash their hands long enough to kill the bacteria or don't scrub hard enough or use enough friction in order to get rid of the bacteria, so a hand sanitizer has ingredients that will instantly kill the bacteria if you have been exposed to it," warns Dr. Katherine Treherne.
Doctor Katherine Treherne preaches the importance of good hygiene over and over and Kevin tells his story as often as he can too to warn others.
If you think you have MRSA call your doctor. School health officials say if your child has any kind of infection let them know so they can help take care of the child and protect others in the class.
You can get MRSA anywhere, but doctors say those most at risk are children in daycares, people in jail and athletes because these people spend a lot of time in close contact.