Community-associated MRSA

These persons can infect others or themselves without knowing about it. In the community most MRSA infections are skin infections that may appear as pustules or boils which often are red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. These skin infections commonly occur after a cut or abrasions. The best way to protect yourself and your family from CA-MRSA is to prevent it in the first place. Keep these steps in mind; 1) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water throughout the day, whenever you wash your hands do so for 20 seconds (one way to do this is to sing the “happy birthday song” twice ) ; 2) Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for quick use when hands are not visibly soiled and soap and water is not available; 3) Do not share personal items such as towels, washcloths or razors or other items that come into direct contact with the skin ; 4) If you have a cut or abrasion keep the skin covered with a clean dry bandage until it is healed. If you have a cut or abrasion that will not heal, contact your health care provider for advise. CA-MRSA can usually be effectively treated and if you suspect you have CA-MRSA you should contact your health care provider for assistance . More serious infections can occur related to CA-MRSA but they are rare. For information about what schools can do for CA-MRSA click to see Questions and Answers about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Schools

More Links and Resources

• MRSA Wrestling Recommendations
• MRSA Football Recommendations
• MRSA Resource List
• Benjamin 2007
• Kurkrowski 2007