You may have heard about MRSA, a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. Last week, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control launched a national campaign to teach parents how to reduce their families' risk of skin infections caused by MRSA.
MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and may cause skin and other infections.
You can get MRSA through direct contact with an infected person or by sharing personal items, such as towels or razors that have touched infected skin.
The National MRSA Education Initiative is aimed at highlighting specific actions parents can take to protect themselves and their children. It's a good idea to share these tips with your family — including little ones — to get them in the practice of "an ounce of prevention."
These tips are quite timely, especially with kids back in school and fall sports starting up.
- Wash your hands frequently throughout the day and encourage family members to do the same.
- Make sure to put a bandage on an open cut, which can help protect you from MRSA and other infections.
- Don’t share towels or razors.
- Call the doctor if you have a skin infection and fever.
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- Interested in learning more? The Mayo Clinic and webmd both contain good info about MRSA.
- University of Virginia researchers develop technique to combat staph in ICU
