Health Services issues advisory for staph infection

By Benjamin Circelli
Collegian Reporter
September 20, 2006

Health Services issued a health advisory on Sept. 13 informing all students about a new staph infection.

Known as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, MRSA is a staph strain that is commonly found on the skin. It starts as a break in the skin that closely resembles a pimple, boil or insect bite, as it forms a small red area. Although symptoms may seem minor at first, they can become worse without treatment.

“This is contagious, as it is resistant to normal skin infection antibiotics,” said Associate Director of Health Services Dina Oleksiak.

MRSA spreads by close contact between healthy skin and infected skin or infected objects. The bacterium is commonly found in crowded residential areas, like dorms and apartments, as it survives on personal belongings such as towels, bed sheets and hygienic items. Athletes and college students are among the people most at risk to catch MRSA.

Health Services began treating cases about two years ago and have recently started seeing it again with a few scattered cases. However, MRSA skin infections are not only a problem for students at La Salle, but for people nationwide.

“Sixty percent of all appointments for skin problems at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are MRSA -related,” Oleksiak said. “And so are fifty percent of infectious disease doctors daily basis cases in the past year.”

Practicing good personal hygiene is the number one way to prevent an MRSA infection. Washing one’s hands frequently is the most effective way to ensure cleanliness. For athletes, shower directly after working out. In addition, one should never share personal hygiene items, even clothes. Laundry (clothes, bed linens, and towels) should be done on a weekly basis using hot water and long drying cycles.

La Salle has strictly followed the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and maintains regular contact with specialists at Germantown Hospital.

“The U.S. Health Department was out at La Salle recently and was extremely pleased with the recommendations that the Health Center has put in place to combat MRSA skin infections,” Oleksiak said.

circellib1@lasalle.edu