A staphylococcus infection outbreak has closed a central Virginia high school.
Rappahannock High School in Warsaw, Va. closed October 10 for disinfecting. One student – a football player -- was in surgery at the University of Virginia Hospital for the infection, which he had contracted a fourth time. After-school activities were cancelled as well. For precaution, Rappahannock Elementary school also was closed for disinfecting.
According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus, or “staph,” is a bacterium transmitted through open, infected wounds. Symptoms of an infected “staph” wound are redness, burning and pus production. Infections are treated by draining and cleaning the wound and with antibiotics. The most common type of infection – cellulitis -- affects the skin’s deeper layers, according to The HealiaHealthBlog, which added over the years, the infection has grown increasingly resistant to antibiotics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) in Atlanta, health care-associated infections account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year in U.S. hospitals
Rappahannock County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Bob Chappell said the school, in conjunction with the VDH is instituting an environmental cleaning of the school building and improving hand-washing practices by students.
There were no reports of “staph” outbreak in neighboring Fauquier County Schools.
Chappell said the five infected students all were members of the school’s football team. "We're sending the equipment to Philadelphia to be disinfected," he said. It was suspected the infection spread from players sharing jerseys, clothing and equipment. The Rappahannock County superintendent of schools cancelled football practice. It was not determined if games would be postponed.
Rappahannock County Health Officer Frances Phillips said the outbreak was not unusual, given some high school students don't practice good hygiene.
In the past three weeks in the Washington, D.C. area, parents and students have reported a total of 28 “staph” infections at Severna Park, Glen Burnie, Old Mill and Chesapeake high schools in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
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