Overview

MRSA skin infections can occur in community settings, including schools, and are spread mainly through skin-to-skin contact and contact with contaminated surfaces or shared objects. Practicing good hygiene and acting quickly when infections occur are crucial steps to prevent the spread of MRSA in schools.

Why it matters

Preventing MRSA infections helps maintain a healthy school environment and reduces the risk of outbreaks that can lead to more serious health problems.

General guidance

Prevention

• Encourage students and staff to wash their hands frequently with soap and water.
• Advise students and staff to keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
• Ensure regular cleaning of shared equipment and surfaces.

Answer

Closure to clean or disinfect

In general, you do not need to close schools to “disinfect” them when MRSA infections occur. Routine cleaning practices are enough in most cases.

Notifications

• Usually, you do not need to inform the entire school community about a single MRSA infection.
• In most schools, the school health provider should notify the student’s teacher or staff of any illness or infection. Check with your school about its policy.
• The school health nurse must decide whether to notify some or all students, parents and staff. If health care providers are not available at the school, consult with the local public health department to guide this decision.

Reporting

If multiple MRSA infections are identified in the school (ie, an outbreak), facilities should report the outbreak to the local health department for further investigation and/or guidance.

Continued attendance

Most students with MRSA infections can go to school unless a health care provider tells them not to.

They should not go to school if:

• They cannot maintain good personal hygiene.
• They have a wound with drainage (pus) that cannot be covered and contained with a clean, dry bandage.

Guidance for teachers and staff

• If you observe a child with open, draining wounds or infections, take them to the school’s medical staff. If one is not available, call the child’s guardian and ask them to seek medical attention.
• Reinforce the need for hand hygiene for everyone as part of general good health practice:
  • Before you eat.
  • After touching infected wounds or dirty bandages.
  • After using the bathroom.

Guidance for school medical staff

• If a student has a skin infection, refer them to a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
• Notify parents/guardians when you discover possible skin infections and share educational resources.
• Use Standard precautions when caring for broken skin (open wounds) or potential infections.
• Use barriers such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection if splashing or other contact with infected body fluids is expected.