Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology
October 25, 2007
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a form of staph infection that does not respond to routine treatment with some commonly used antibiotics, although other antibiotics are effective. MRSA is becoming increasingly prevalent in community settings and specifically on athletic teams. Should an outbreak of MRSA infection or related situation of concern be identified at a college or university campus, personnel or officials from the institution should contact the local health district director for further guidance.
Background
Staph infections have been around for a long time, causing mild to severe illness.
MRSA may be more difficult to treat but is otherwise the same as a "staph infection."
Mild infections may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful,
or have pus or other drainage. More serious infections may cause pneumonia,
bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections.
MRSA outbreaks in the college setting have been linked to poor hygiene, sharing contaminated personal items or athletic equipment, skin-to-skin contact, and cuts or breaks in the skin.
Colonization
Approximately 25-30% of the population is colonized with staph, and about 1-2% of the population is colonized with MRSA. Colonization means the organism is carried on the body, either in the nose or on the skin, but is not causing any symptoms or infection. As a result, a college student or staff member could be a carrier, but not be aware of it. These individuals may spread the organism to others who could go on to develop infections.
Conditions for the Spread of Bacteria
Staph, including MRSA, are spread by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with a shared, contaminated item. Students sharing towels, personal hygiene items, athletic equipment, or students engaging in close-contact sports are example situations where staph could be transmitted. Risk factors for transmission of MRSA include crowding, frequent skin-to-skin contact, cuts or breaks in the skin, contaminated surfaces and shared items, lack of cleanliness, immune system problems, and recent surgery or other invasive procedure.
Basic Steps for Prevention
Routine cleaning is all that is recommended for disinfection. Because the bacteria live on the skin, they may be reintroduced into any environment at any time. Therefore, hand washing and wound care remain the primary means of preventing staph infections.
Public Health Reporting
Suspected outbreaks of staph infections should be reported to the local health
department (see http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/lhd/).
Health department staff may be able to provide additional guidance in identifying
causes of transmission, and recommendations for reducing the risk to students
and staff.
Resources
Further information about MRSA can be found on the website links listed below:
* Note: A bleach solution of 1 part bleach in 9 parts water (e.g., 1 3/4
cups bleach to 1 gallon of water) will kill Staphylococcus aureus, as
well as other (tougher to kill) disease-causing organisms such as norovirus
and Clostridium difficile, and should be used when possible. In situations
where this is impractical, a more dilute solution (e.g., 1 part bleach in 64
parts water, such as 1/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon of water)
may be used to disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with S. aureus.
However, it should be noted that bleach solutions more dilute than 1 part bleach
in 9 parts water may not kill some disease causing organisms. Another option
is to use a 1 part bleach in 9 parts water solution, followed
by a rinse with water to remove residual bleach. Bleach solutions should be
mixed fresh daily to ensure effectiveness. Bleach solutions should NOT be used
to sanitize hands or for cleaning wounds.