The Whitworthian

Issue date: 11/13/07 Last Updated: 11/15/07

Mainstream media calls it a "superbug," but it's nothing new, and with proper cleanliness and prevention, it's nothing to be afraid of, said Jan Murray, director of the Whitworth Health Center.

Numerous cases of MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, have occurred recently in Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington schools. News reports of the "superbug" invading local schools have made it onto KHQ and KXLY news channels, leaving some to wonder, just what is this super bug?

Staphylococcus aureus, commonly called "staph," are carried on about 25 percent of the skin and nose of healthy people, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Staff bacteria infections are one of the most common types of skin infections in the United States and can be treated with antibiotics.

MRSA is a type of staph infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams, including the common medicines penicillin and amoxicillin. This type of bacteria occurs on approximately one percent of the population, according to the CDC.

While most staph infections occur in health facilities, it is not uncommon for the strain to occur outside the hospital setting.

The incidences where MRSA is contracted outside health facilities are called CA-MRSA, which stands for community-associated.

Staph infections of the skin are characteristically red, swollen, painful wounds on the skin's surface that may resemble a boil or pimple and then drain with pus. More serious infections can occur if the external wound is not treated. This may result in pneumonia and bloodstream infections.

While MRSA is resistant to many common types of antibiotics, it is still highly treatable and is nothing to worry about, Murray said.

"We've been treating it for a long time," Murray said. "It's really treatable. It's not like a death sentence."

Murray said that since the population at Whitworth is mostly healthy and has good immune systems, MRSA is not a substantial threat.

"MRSA is still fairly rare in this population," Murray said. "The only people who get really sick are those with compromised immune systems who don't get treated."

Murray advises students who suspect they may have an MRSA infection to simply contact their health care professional and get treated promptly.

In order to avoid contracting MRSA, which can only occur through physical contact, Murray suggests using common-sense hygiene practices.

MRSA may be dangerous, and it's right to be cautious, but it doesn't have to be life threatening, Murray said.

"People get the impression that it's not curable and it's just not true," Murray said. "I don't think we should be worried about it any more than any other communicable disease."

Contact Kelly MacDonald at kelly.macdonald@whitworthian.com.

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