Recently the media has been bombarding the public with messages about the "superbug" strains of the bacteria called community-acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).
Children and adults throughout the country have died as a result of exceedingly rare systemic infections caused by this organism that usually causes pustules on the skin. There have been reports of schools closing and having to be disinfected before students can come back. School officials are taking the blame for not contacting parents (and telling) of the presence of this bacteria in children in their schools.
Here are some facts that may temper some of the hysteria that is prevailing:
1. CA-MRSA is common. I see a child or two every two weeks* in my office with pustules or boils that are caused by this bacteria, that is resistant to the usual antibiotics. These children overwhelmingly do fine and require either opening of these lesions to allow them to drain, or use of other common antibiotics. Health care providers are encouraged to culture more of these lesions to determine antibiotic susceptibility.
2. These bacteria are in every school in the country and will be increasingly common.
3. CA-MRSA is transmitted person to person and the use of widespread decontamination of schools with disinfectants is not felt to be a major factor in preventing spread.
4. Children with this infection can go to school, as long as the lesions can be covered, are being treated in some way, and they have the ability to use good sanitary practices.
5. The vast majority of infections are of the skin and can be treated with drainage with or without antibiotics. Deaths are very rare, but the few that have occurred demonstrate the wisdom of seeing your health care provider if one has new boils, pustules or furuncles.
6. I am hereby notifying parents that kids with CA-MRSA are in every school in the country and this is a fact of medical life. The school is under no obligation to report every case to the public. This would be an overwhelming task and would continue to fan the flames of hysteria the media is promoting.
7. Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of this bacteria and other infectious illnesses.
8. A major reason for this antibiotic resistance developing is that patients pester their doctors to give them antibiotics for viral illnesses, like the common cold. Always ask your doctor if antibiotics are truly needed for a given illness.
The CDC has an excellent summary of some of these points at the Web site: www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools.
About the author
Dr. Dave Olson is a local pediatrician with the Grand Traverse Children's Clinic.
About the forum
The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
Read Dr. Olson's letter to the editor correcting his orginal assertion that he sees a child or two a day with CA-MRSA. View now »
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