Wootton Student Contracts MRSA

Concerns about MRSA in Montgomery County Public Schools were first spurred in October when more than two-dozen cases were reported in the school system. As of late last month, there had been 53 cases of MRSA reported in MCPS students, most of whom had fully recovered. Three of those cases continued to be treated, according to Kate Harrison, a spokeswoman for MCPS. Merry King, a special education teacher at Hoover Middle School, died of the infection in December.

‘‘This is our first known case of MRSA here at Wootton High School,” the letter stated. The student was diagnosed over the weekend, visited his physician and had been in contact with the school nurse, the letter stated. The school building is being disinfected as a precautionary measure and the school is sharing information about MRSA with the school community.

According to the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, most staph infections occur in patients in the hospital – however, they are becoming more common in the community. Skin infections resulting from staph bacteria can resemble a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen or painful.

Staph bacteria are most commonly contracted through skin-to-skin contact. According to Montgomery County Public Schools, hand washing, keeping lesions clean and covered, and avoiding sharing personal items are effective methods of prevention.