By JIM FITZGERALD, Associated Press Writer
Fri Oct 19, 8:08 PM ET



Nine athletes and a coach at Iona College contracted an antibiotic-resistant staph infection, which has spread through schools nationwide, health officials said Friday.

The outbreak was under control and the one student who was hospitalized has been released, said Dr. Joshua Lipsman, the health commissioner in Westchester County, just north of New York City.

Staph infections, including the serious Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, have spread in recent weeks through schools across the nation, according to health and education officials.

A high school senior in Virginia died of the disease Monday, his mother said. And dozens of high school students and some teachers in districts around the country have contracted the illness this fall, officials have said.

Lipsman confirmed that the Iona cases were MRSA, which does not respond to penicillin and related antibiotics but can be treated with other drugs.

Cecelia Donohoe, spokeswoman for the college in New Rochelle, said all the cases had been caught early and were mild. She wouldn't identify the team, citing privacy concerns, but Lipsman said all the victims are male.

The infection can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or sharing an item used by an infected person, particularly one with an open wound. Lipsman said Iona was dealing properly with the infection.

He and Donohoe said team members with open wounds have been forbidden to play, the weight room had been disinfected and all students have been advised about proper hygiene, such as scrupulous hand washing and not sharing razors or towels.

MRSA began showing up years ago in hospitals before working its way into prisons, schools and other community settings. School athletes appear particularly susceptible because of cuts and scrapes, bodily contact and the sharing of equipment.

Schools where the infections have been reported have closed to be sanitized before reopening.

The government earlier this week issued its first overall estimate of diseases caused by MRSA, finding more than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from it.

I deal with MRSA in my job and while the article posted above should receive attention it is also important to realize that all of us carry on our skin, Staph. MRSA included, but it does not pose an issue until it invades our bloodstream where it can then lead to some serious results. MRSA is more common in hospitals because hospitals are where you find two types of patients. Those with open wounds and those that are immuno-surpressed. But as the article mentioned, really good hand washing is the key. Antibiotics should also be avoided unless really needed (for infection as antibiotics don't help viruses.)

-Drew

I agree with Drew. I am a clinical microbiologist and the biggest issue is the physician(s) who perscribe antibiotics unnecessarily. Microbes are very smart and can mutate making them immune to the antibiotics. Also, when antibiotics ARE necessary, you MUST take ALL of them (not at once). Taking only part of the prescription until you feel better only gives the organisms what they need to build resistance.

Thank you drew that was very educating!!

OH! dontcha just love hospitals. its contracted in the operating room with their equipment as well. I should know. I contracted it years ago. GOD LOVE THE HOSPITALS FOR BEING SO CLEAN!!!!