MRSA Information

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MRSA is a term that is causing a rising hysteria in the local community and nationwide.  With more children becoming infected, parents and community leaders alike are appropriately concerned for everyone's health and safety.  We at AmSan have been leading the charge in providing the tools and knowledge for fighting against the spread of infection within the community for more than 50 years.  MRSA is serious. It should be given due consideration.  We want you to know that it is treatable and preventable.  We feel it is our obligation to make sure that you are informed about the risks, treatments, but most importantly, prevention of spreading or contracting infection.

What is MRSA?
Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).
Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.
Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.
What does a staph or MRSA infection look like?
Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that 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.
Are staph and MRSA infections treatable?
Yes. Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you are given an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Do not share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time.
However, many staph skin infections may be treated by draining the abscess or boil and may not require antibiotics. Drainage of skin boils or abscesses should only be done by a healthcare provider.
If after visiting your healthcare provider the infection is not getting better after a few days, contact them again. If other people you know or live with get the same infection tell them to go to their healthcare provider.

How can I prevent the spread of MRSA in School Environments?

1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Regular soap is just as effective at removing transient bacteria as antibacterial hand cleaners. There is no need to purchase anti-bacterial products for an outbreak. Be sure to keep all soap and paper towel dispensers working properly. Consider using a touchless paper towel dispensing system.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
4. Avoid sharing personal items (e.g. towels, clothing or razors).
5. Utilize a barrier (e.g. clothing or towel) between your skin and shared equipment.
6. Wipe surfaces of equipment (e.g. weight benches, athletic training tables) before and after use with a fast acting disinfectant.
7. Avoid whirlpools, hydrotherapy pools, cold tubs, swimming pools, and other common tubs if you have an open wound.
8. Maintain clean facilities and equipment. A microfiber dust mop program should be implemented for the floors underneath areas where mats are used for activities. In addition to dust moping, the mats should be disinfected by mopping them prior to practice and after practice.
9. Locker room area floors and shower areas should be disinfected by mopping them daily. 

At AmSan, we stock an array of products that not only disinfect thoroughly, but also do it efficiently. On the following page you will find a list of products that we stock that are registered with the EPA to effectively kill MRSA bacteria.