MRSA outbreak continues to spread

By: Kristin Turner
Staff Writer
Published: Oct 21, 2007

More cases of the MRSA infection spreads to other schools.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is now spreading to other schools in the country, one being Florida Atlantic University. A student at A.D. Henderson University School at Florida Atlantic was diagnosed this week with the bacterial skin infection resistant to some antibiotics. A.D. Henderson is a laboratory school on the FAU campus.

Health officials at the elementary/middle school told parents of students about the contracted discovery and noted that MRSA is resistant to common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. School officials immediately cleaned the space where the student occupied with alcohol and bleach. The student has since returned to class and there have been no other reports. This is the first case in the school's history.

When a person is infected with MRSA, the initial infection looks like a spider bite and treated with a strong intravenous antibiotic.

The student is being treated for the infection, which initially looks like a spider bite, school officials said. MRSA patients usually are treated with strong, intravenous antibiotics.

MRSA has caused nearly 94,000 infections and 19,000 deaths in 2005, more than AIDS, according to a study released by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Schools in Maryland and Virginia were closed for extensive cleaning after a teen died from the infection. Those states have reported four new cases, bringing the total to nine. Martin County High School in Stuart, Florida reported three more cases among athletes.