Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Campus

Despite dominating headlines across the country last week, the risk of drug-resistant staph infections is minor - especially at Northwestern, where no cases have been reported, said Dr. Donald Misch, executive director of NU Health Service.

"The hype is grossly out of proportion to the risk," Misch said.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a relatively common bacteria that nearly one-third of people carry in their nose or on their skin. Infections occur when the germ enters the body through broken skin. Usually, the result is a skin-deep lesion (like a pimple or an abscess) that can be treated relatively easily with strong antibiotics. Rarely, though, staph invades the bloodstream and can cause organ failure and death.

At least five K-12 schools in the Chicago area underwent heavy-duty cleaning last week after administrators discovered drug-resistant staph infections among students, according to the Chicago Tribune. Fewer than 15 cases were reported and none resulted in death. The Illinois Department of Public Health sent guidelines to schools for preventing the spreading of the germ.

Preventing an infection is relatively simple, Misch said - wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, and keep cuts and scrapes clean, covered and dry. Students shouldn't share personal items like bars of soap, towels or razors, Misch said.

Athletes are more likely to get a staph infection because they're often injured during play and expose open wounds to shared equipment, like wrestling mats, Misch said.

NU athletics staff is discussing more ways to keep MRSA contained, such as completely disinfecting locker rooms, said Bill Jarvis, NU's equipment room manager. They already clean equipment thoroughly to stop the spread of other communicable diseases, he said.

"Especially with contact sports like wrestling and football, where there can be lots of cuts and scrapes, we make sure to disinfect everything," Jarvis said.

Continued...

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