Staph found at high school

By Mike Ford, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, October 22, 2007 (10 months, 3 weeks ago)
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DELPHOS — A nationwide outbreak of staph infections hit home recently when two student athletes at Jefferson High School were diagnosed with confirmed cases of the bacterial infection.
What was confirmed at the school is not the MRSA strain, which is most aggressively resistant to antibiotics, School Nurse Stacey Ricker reported Friday.
“The school has been working in conjunction with the Allen County Health Department in the infectious disease process and implementation of recommended guidelines. Appropriate cleaning measures have been performed and we feel that our school remains a safe place for our students,” she said.
Ricker encourages students and all residents to wash their hands as the best line of defense. Soap and warm water should be used for at least 20 seconds and should be performed before eating and drinking and after using the restroom.
She also recommends good general hygiene practices, including daily showering, keeping bandages over any open wounds no matter how small and seeking medical attention if any open wounds become reddened, swollen or painful.
Residents should avoid sharing personal items, such as towels and clothing. All soiled linens should be washed with laundry detergent in hot water and dryed in a hot dryer to kill bacteria.
All potentially contaminated surfaces should be disinfected with a bleach-water solution of approximately one cup of bleach to a gallon of water.
“The Delphos City Schools will continue to provide general cleaning on a regular schedule to ensure the safety of our students. Children with wounds that cannot be covered and/or who are classmates of severely immune-compromised children may present additional risks,” Ricker said. “Complex situations need to be more thoroughly assessed on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the local or state health department and pediatric infection-control specialists.”
Staph bacteria are spread through close contact, including skin-to-skin, bodily fluids and open wounds. They are normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third of the population. Many have staph on the skin or in the nose but aren’t sick. These persons are said to be “colonized” but not infected. Though these persons suffer no symptoms, they can pass the bacteria to others.
Letters will be sent to all parents of high school students.

1 Reader Response to “Staph found at high school”

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  1. #1 — Added 10 months, 3 weeks ago

    Would it be possible for the teachers at grade school mainly K-1st grade to have hand sanitizer out to use on each boy and girl as they go to lunch?

    Posted on October 22, 2007 at 10:47 am by vicki Michael