Date: November 14, 2007

Attention: ASCIP Members

Subject: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

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ASCIP has received numerous inquiries in regard to MRSA in schools. In mid-October the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published findings based on a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) which indicated that Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), commonly referred to as staph, infections had resulted in more deaths than AIDS in 2005. With the release of these reports, MRSA received a great deal of media attention and many cases were being reported around the United States.

To prevent staph and other skin infections, students and staff should practice good personal-hygiene, which include: avoid sharing personal items such as towels and clothing; avoid touching other people's wounds or bandages; cover any wounds, cuts, scrapes, boils or other skin infections with clean bandages; and wash hands thoroughly and often with soap and water.

In addition to personal-hygiene, school staff should ensure that areas where staph and other skin infections are most likely to occur receive regular and thorough cleanings. These areas include: weight-lifting rooms; wrestling areas; locker rooms; and other areas where shared equipment may come in direct contact with a person's skin. The manufacturer's cleaning instructions should be consulted when cleaning equipment such as wrestling mats to ensure that the cleaners will not damage the equipment and/or void any warranties.

In the event that an MRSA infection is reported by staff or students at district or school sites, the district should contact the local public health department per California Code of Regulations Title 17, Section 2508 - "It shall be the duty of anyone in charge of a public or private school, kindergarten, boarding school, or day nursery to report at once to the local health officer the presence or suspected presence of any of the communicable diseases." The local health officer may request the district to isolate affected individuals, isolate rooms, notify affected parties and/or take other necessary actions to control the communicable disease. ASCIP staff verified with the California Department of Public Health that MRSA is a reportable communicable disease and is required to be reported to the local health department.

Schools may elect to ensure that parents are aware of the concerns related to MRSA and where suspect exposures are observed, develop a mechanism by which those parents might be alerted to such exposures.

Please review the attached bulletin from the California Department of Public Health www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/Documents/07MRSAschool.pdf. ASCIP staff is available to assist in addressing potential MRSA exposure concerns as they may arise.