MRSA strain of staph infects Las Vegas student

The Review Journal reported today that a student at Stewart School near Flamingo and Eastern has been diagnosed with a drug resistant skin infection called Methicillin-resistent Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

MRSA is a type of staph infection in which the bacteria has developed a resistance to methicillin and other antibiotics normally used to treat staph.

Although MRSA can be a serious and has caused the deaths of students across the nation, it is not an uncommon infection and most skin infections are treatable according to the Southern Nevada Health District. Infections are typically visible in the form of pimples or boils.

The health district receives about 6,000 reports of MRSA each year, but this number is not an accurate reflection of the actual number of cases. In many cases, the infection is mild and self-limiting, eventually clearing up on their own without medical attention.

MRSA can be acquired by skin-to-skin contact or through contact with items that have touched an infected person’s skin, such as towels or gym equipment. The SNHD gave these tips for prevention:

Proper hand washing

Not sharing towels, soap, deodorant, etc.

Cleaning and sanitizing athletic equipment with frequent skin contact

Covering cuts, scrapes and open wounds with bandages to prevent the spread of the disease

Seeking medical care for wounds or cuts that are red, swollen, painful or draining

Taking antibiotics responsibly

Complete the entire course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor, even if you feel better

Do not skip doses of antibiotics

Do not share antibiotics with other people

Do not demand antibiotics from your healthcare provider. Your physician will be able to determine if antibiotics are appropriate for the infection. Many common infections are caused by viruses; antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections.