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Sizing Up The MRSA Risk

Friday, November 09, 2007

November 8, 2007 (WPVI) -- Not long ago, few people outside of healthcare had ever heard of the methicillin resistant staph aureus bacteria. Now this microscopic organism has become a major concern for those in schools, sports and for families in general. But how much of a risk is it? We want to bring you the facts.

Holly Taylor of Telford, Pennsylvania remembers, "He called me, and said 'Mom, I have a lump under my arm.'"

Her son, Zach, said, "It hurt like crazy."

Zach Taylor says the golf-ball sized knot appeared out of nowhere.

Within a few days, before he could get to the family doctor, he also had a fever and a rash.

Zach said, "It ended up like about three-quarters of the way down my arm, and it was all red and hot."

After 5 days in the hospital, where the infection was drained, and double doses of antibiotics, Zach is okay.

But his mother is still shaken by this encounter with MRSA.

"I thought he was gonna die," she said.

We've all heard frightening MRSA stories as of late.

In Virginia, a 16-year-old died after the infection invaded his body.

So did a 12-year-old in New York City.

Alarmed by these reports, some schools shut down to be disinfected because of even a single case of MRSA skin infection.

That, according to infectious disease specialists, is not necessary.

The fact is staph bacteria - including MRSA - is all around us and usually doesn't cause a dangerous infection.

Dr. Mark Baumel of the Healthcare Improvement Foundation, said, "One per cent of the folks walking around today carry the MRSA bug."

Dr. Susan Coffin, an infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital, added, "It is not something that is spread through the air. It is not something that is spread by sitting next so to someone at the lunch table, or using a bathroom stall."

Only 2 out of every 10 MRSA infections are acquired in the community.

The rest are acquired in hospitals.

Outside hospitals, the risk of death due to MRSA is just point-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-five percent.

Like many bacteria, staph likes moist, warm places where people are in close quarters, such as locker rooms.

Jim Rogers, a Temple University Sports Medicine specialist, has seen a rise in MRSA skin infections among athletes.

Virtually every NFL team has had cases.

Scholastic and college teams have also been hit.

Harriton High in Lower Merion postponed a football game after 5 players were diagnosed.

Rogers believes one change in athletes' habits is part of the problem - very few shower after games or practice.

"As soon as they come home from games or practice, make sure they shower," he advised.

Rogers has these other MRSA-busting tips:

"Coaches should demand that at least once a week, preferably twice a week, their practice jerseys and pants be taken home, washed by Mom, and throughly dried and cleansed," he said.

For nearly 6 years, Maggie Fulmer's son, Chuck, has had painful battles with MRSA. The recurring skin infections finally forced him to give up sports. Fulmer wants everyone to learn as much as they can about this superbug.

"We need to talk to our kids, and tell them it's okay to tell us if something's wrong," she said

Another important message: People who have this infection should not be stigmatized. With prompt treatment, it can be eradicated, sometimes even without antibiotics.

If parents are worried about MRSA cases in schools, they should talk to their kids.

As long as they don't share personal items like towels or makeup, spread is unlikely.

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