MRSA Staph and "Superbug" Outbreaks in Schools: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Child Safe

According to a recent news report on CBS Evening News on October 16, 2007 (www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/16/health/main3375017.shtml ), more than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from a drug-resistant staph "superbug," known as MSRA, the government reported Tuesday in its first overall estimate of invasive disease caused by the germ. Those are the facts but there are some basic steps parents and others can do to help reduce the risk of contracting this deadly form of staph. While there isn't yet a vaccine, the steps listed below can put the odds on your side.

How serious is this? So serious that some estimates say that deaths tied to these infections may exceed those caused by AIDS, mainly because the disease can be so immediately lethal and current drug protocols for MSRA types of staph may be inffective against this deadly form. The latest reports indicate that MSRA has spread beyond hospitals (which used to have isolated outbreaks in specific wards or areas where hygiene was an issue) and poses a risk to the general public. School settings are particular hot spots because of the large number of students clustered in one building.

Basically, every thirty minutes there is a death attributed to MRSA!

This isn't grounds for panic- yet. But it is reason enough for parents to follow some common sense measures to lower the risks to their families.
Following these steps can help protect you and lower your chances of getting MSRA:

Step One: Know the Facts. Most drug-resistant staph cases are mild skin infections. But some have evolved into "superbugs", those that enter the bloodstream or destroy flesh and can turn deadly. They are often resistant to drugs that would quickly wipe out most staph infections. If a staph infection doesn't respond to treatment or seems to worsen rapidly, call your doctor back. Trust your instincts. Act quickly and don't worry about being a pest if you or your child doesn't respond in a normal time frame to antibiotic or other treatment for your infection. .