Jun 27, 2006 11:06 pm US/Central
Doctors Call Staph Infection An 'Emerging Threat'
by Stephanie Lucero
AZLE (CBS 11 News) ―
Some health officials are calling it an emerging health threat. Doctors in north Texas say they're seeing a big surge in the type of staph infection that used to be transmitted mainly in hospitals.
Hundreds of patients have already been treated in Tarrant County.
This particular staph infection passes from person to person very easily. The infection is common among athletes, who in turn pass it onto others.
A simple cut or a scrape, even a pimple… any opening in the skin can be the means of spreading this type of staph infection. It's called 'community acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus', or MRSA.
Kylie Fonville is one of hundreds of students in the Azle Independent School District who have been educated about the need to wash their hands. More than 450 patients have been treated for MRASA at Harris Methodist Northwest, a small hospital in Azle.
Hospital educator Marsha Ingle uses florescent powder to demonstrate how germs are spread. She says the hospital has cut the number of MRSA cases dramatically through an awareness program.
Ingle calls the infection a 'sticky bug', because it sticks to door handles, desks, and athletic equipment.
MRSA usually starts with a wound that won't heal, and then turns into a red boil.
Members of the medical community are concerned about people involved in sports being exposed to the infection.
"Athletic groups spread MRSA very easily, because there's skin-to-skin contact, there's contact with equipment, there's a lot of sharing towels, and personal items like razors," Ingle said.
Dallas County health officials say they've initiated a surveillance program for MRSA, but it's not a reportable infection… so doctors don't know how many cases there are in north Texas.
MRSA, which in the past was largely confined to hospitals, is now spreading from person-to-person. Doctors say the infection is rarely fatal and that there is no reason for panic.
Doctors say they don't know why MRSA is spreading in Texas, but the best defense is to –
- Wash your hands.
- Keep all uncovered and clean with soap and water.
- Report any wound that won't heal to a doctor.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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