Superintendent of Hauppauge Public Schools, Patricia Sullivan-Kriss, released a letter warning district parents of a case of MRSA in the district. In the letter Ms. Sullivan-Kriss confirms that the school district had been notified of a case of MRSA at Hauppauge High School.
Newsday has identified the student as Nick Mauriello a sixteen-year-old wrestler for the Hauppauge wrestling team. At this time the student is reported to be recuperating well and may be able to leave Stony Brook Hospital in the near future.
MRSA is a bacterial infection resistant to certain antibiotics. The bacteria can enter the body through a cut or sore. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Community-associated MRSA infections occur in otherwise healthy people who have not recently been in the hospital. The infections have occurred among athletes who share equipment or personal items…”. Nick Mauriello is an accomplished wrestler who, prior to his hospitalization, wrestled in more than 18 matches throughout Long Island since the beginning of the 2011 wrestling season.
According to Suffolk County Health Services web page MRSA is not a new disease. It has been in the population since 1961. Additionally, MRSA is not an imminent threat to the general population. “33% of the population has staphylococcus aureous (MRSA) on their skin and will never get sick from it. 1% of the population has MRSA and they will never get sick from it. The most vulnerable populations are actually those age 65 yeas and above and those with compromised immune systems.
Ms. Sullivan- Kriss offered this advice to parents: If you suspect your child may have MRSA contact your physician and take the child for a test. Speak to your children about good hygienic habits. The Centers for Disease Control offers these four points to help prevent the spread of MRSA:
1. Keep hands clean by washing frequently and thoroughly with soap and hot water or hand sanitizer.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds and bandages.
4. Do not share personal items such as towels, razors, clothes and athletic equipment.
Prevention, treatment and vigilance (PTV) will help in the fight against MRSA.