From the CMS Health Offices

We are again this year sending out information provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health about a serious skin infection that has been in the media lately and in several Massachusetts communities.. It is called community acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or CA-MRSA. This is a skin infection that is resistant to many antibiotics, and when treated, it must be tested to make sure the correct antibiotic is used. The infection most often begins on the skin as a simple red bump. It can be mistaken for a spider bite. The bump usually turns into a fluid-filled lesion which will likely produce pus and the surrounding redness can spread, becoming hot and tender to the touch. Because the fluid in these lesions are full of bacteria, and a ready means of spreading the bacteria to other sites or to other people in close contact with the infected person, it is important to keep the lesion in tact, and to seek medical attention.

The most important ways to protect everyone from this infection is to:

1. Wash hands frequently with soap and warm (not hot) water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed
3. Avoid sharing any personal items - towels, clothing, shoes (especially gym shoes), athletic equipment, or anything that can hold dead skin.

The information below is tips about skin infections in general. If you have further questions or concerns, feel free to contact your building nurse.

Kate Bell, RN,MEd, Nurse Chair
(978)341-2490 ext. 6158