MRSA In Hopkins County?
By: Kelli Carlisle
Updated: October 24, 2007
DONNA MELTON IS SPENDING THE DAY WITH HER KIDS.
SHE KEPT THEM HOME FROM SCHOOL AFTER RECEIVING AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE FROM HOPKINS COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JAMES LEE STEVENS THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE CONFIRMED CASE OF MRSA IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BUT IS THIS MOTHER AND PARENTS LIKE HER OVER-REACTING?
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM LATER POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT THE ONE CONFIRMED CASE WAS A MIS-DIAGNOSIS, AND THAT STUDENTS SHOULD REMAIN IN SCHOOL, SOMETHING HOPKINS COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS AGREE WITH.
MOST DRUG-RESISTANT STAFF INFECTIONS ARE JUST SKIN INFECTIONS THAT CAN BE TREATED, BUT THERE ARE THOSE THAT GET INTO THE BLOOD STREAM, AND THATS WHEN IT CAN BECOME DEADLY.
THE FACT THAT IT RECENTLY LED TO THE DEATH OF A VIRGINIA TEENAGER HAS PARENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONCERNED.
KNOWING THAT SOME INFECTIONS CAN KILL IS REASON ENOUGH FOR PARENTS LIKE DONNA MELTON TO KEEP HER KIDS AT HOME, AND THATS ITS NO OVER-REACTION.
SUGGESTIONS TO AVOID GETTING AN INFECTION INCLUDE WASHING YOUR HANDS, WASHING ANY ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT, NOT SHARING PERSONAL ITEMS, AND MAKING SURE ANY OPEN WOUNDS ARE COVERED.
A HEALTH DEPARTMENT REGISTERED NURSE IS AT EVERY SCHOOL IN HOPKINS COUNTY, AND THEY URGE STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT MERSA AND STAFF INFECTIONS.
DONNA MELTON HASNT DECIDED WHETHER OR NOT HER KIDS WILL GO BACK TO SCHOOL THE REST OF THE WEEK.
FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO www.hopkins.k12.ky.us
