State Health Officials Release MRSA ("Superbug") Info

The Indiana Department of Health has issued a news release aimed at educating Hoosiers about the “superbug” that has infected more than a dozen people, mostly students. According to the release, Methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, otherwise known as MRSA, is not a new disease and has been present in Indiana for years. It is a type of bacteria which has developed resistance to several antibiotics and thus making it more difficult to treat. Most MRSA infections are skin infections, however, and are able to be treated with appropriate antibiotics. Rarely, if MRSA enters the blood stream or a major body organ, it can produce a serious and even fatal infection. MRSA can be spread as a result of skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin, contaminated surfaces, and poor hygiene.

To help decrease the incidence of MRSA infections, health officials recommend the following:

• Practice frequent and appropriate hand hygiene.
• Do not share personal hygiene items such as soap, towels, etc.
• Practice prompt, effective wound care by washing thoroughly with soap and hot water.
• Routinely clean and sanitize areas where there is frequent direct skin contact.
• See your health care provider immediately if you notice red, swollen, or painful wounds or skin breaks.
• Take antibiotics responsibly if prescribed.

More information on MRSA is available at www.statehealth.in.gov.