Ocean Student Infected With MRSA; School Officials Taking Extra Precautions
By TOM CARDINALE
The recent increase in cases of MRSA infections in schools all across the country hit close to home recently when a student at Ocean Township High School was confirmed to have a case of the antibiotic-resistant infection.
Ocean Township School Superintendent Tom Pagano said the student, a member of the football team, is “doing well and responding to treatment.”
“There is no evidence it spread,” Pagano said. “We are told MRSA is tough to treat but early detection and treatment is successful.”
Pagano said the school has instituted stricter hygiene policies for their student athletes and are taking every precaution in disinfecting the school.
“All athletes must shower after practice and bring clean clothes everyday,” Pagano said. “We have intensified our cleaning and disinfecting of all common student areas.”
Other area schools are taking similar precautions to ensure that the infection doesn’t spread among their students as well.
Neptune School Superintendent David Mooij said that the district has verified that the cleaning products used in the schools are 100 percent effective against this particular staph strain.
“We are working with Meridian Pediatric Associates, which is our medical officer for the district, and have been in close contact with them, he said.
Meridian is helping the school put together a pamphlet that was sent home with students.
“It will explain sanitary precautions for the entire family, not just the student,” Mooij said. “We will have custodians here and they will be taking extra measures to clean certain areas including locker rooms, weight rooms, and athletic equipment.”
Acting Asbury Park School Superintendent James Parham said he was not aware of any cases in the district.
He received an email from the county instructing the district to notify the local health department of any suspected or confirmed cases of the infection.
Asbury Park High School Principal Tyler Blackmore said the school has no reported cases.
We dont have any cases, but we are making sure at the school site that the hand washing soap dispensers are fully replenished and checked regularly, Blackmore said.
He said all hand washing areas including science classes are fully operational.
Blackmore said students have been alerted through the public address system about the dangers involved in MRSA.
Members of the youth-based service group, The Spot, have been working with students and athletes to make sure guidelines for cleanliness are followed.
Tyler said the schools athletic trainer has been actively implementing the NJIAA guidelines sent to all schools in New Jersey.
She is making sure little things get done like all cuts and abrasions are covered until they fully heal, Blackmore said.
Also school officials are warning students about not sharing towels and water bottles.
Keeping all sports equipment clean is also a high priority.
Were obviously on high alert, Blackmore said.
MRSA, which stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a variation of the common staphylococcus aureus bacterium. MRSA is an evolved form of the bacteria that has become immune to treatment by normal antibiotics such as penicillin and methicillin. The most common process of spreading the infection is through contact so participants in contact sports or those who share athletic equipment or towels are at risk, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
Children are especially vulnerable to MRSA because of their less developed immune systems, the website states, and are more likely to develop dangerous forms of pneumonia due to infection.
MRSA is currently treated with antibiotics such as vancomycin. However, the Mayo Clinic says doctors are already seeing outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant MRSA.
Steps that can be taken to protect from infection include not sharing personal items such as towels or clothing, keeping wounds clean and covered, washing linens and athletic clothes after each use, washing hands frequently, and being sure to get tested for MRSA if a skin infection appears. More information on MRSA can be found at www.mayoclinic.com.
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