Muscatine

I recieved this email today on the Super Bug.Looks like it is in Muscatine.

That Superbug you are hearing about in the news (it's a staph infection) is at the High School. One of our small group (at church) member's daughter who is a Jr had surgery on Monday to clean out the wound. She noticed on Tuesday that it looked like she had a bug bite on her hip. On Thursday it went from looking like a bug bite to an open wound about 2 inches in diameter and oozing. Her mom took her to the doctor right away and they did a biopsy. They called them Sat am to tell them it was this Superbug. She then went in Monday am for the surgery to clean it out. It sounds like she is doing ok. They told them that if the infection was not caught early it could go into her organs or blood stream and would be deadly.

She works at the Y, so she could have caught it there also. The doctors told them that it lives on the skin and if you bump into anyone with it, it will spread. Think of the busy school hallways and the girl was there Tues, Wed and Thurs before it was caught. Kids are saying they have heard of others that have it.
Someone was asked at the School Board Office if they knew about it , and they had not (imagine that). I think the school should be notifying us so we know what to look for. The girl did not have a cut or anything -- it just showed up the first time looking like a bug bite.

I wanted to make sure you all knew about this, because I'm not sure when, or if, we will be told. Please forward this one to anyone else that would need to know.

was notified

There were notes sent home and with email for the High School, Middle School, and Grade School

notified as well

I get announcements/information via email (easiest way to reach me), and this is what I got today from the HS:

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Dear Parents,



A Muscatine High School student has been diagnosed with Methicillin-Resistant Staph infection (MRSA). MRSA is a staph (staphylococcus) bacteria that can cause skin infections such as pimples and boils. MRSA can be resistant to certain types of antibiotics and other medications.



To address this health concern, the Muscatine Community Schools are taking the following steps following the recommendations of the Iowa Department of Public Health:



All schools are being cleaned with disinfectants that kill staph/MRSA as well as other organisms.
Sanitizing hand wipes are being placed in all classrooms and throughout the schools for students and staff to use.
All students are being encouraged to wash their hands or use waterless hand sanitizer frequently during the school day.


As a parent there are several things you can do to stop the spread of MRSA. Handwashing and keeping wounds covered is the most important and effective thing one can do in stopping the spread of this infection.



Please assist our efforts by reinforcing good general hygiene with your children. Encourage your child not to share personal items such as towels or clothing. If your child participates in sports, please remember to disinfect their personal sports equipment.



If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Administration Center, 563.263.7223. Your cooperation is appreciated.



Sincerely,

Dr. Thomas L. Williams Wendy Sargent, R.N., B.S.N.

Superintendent District Nurse Coordinator

My Nephew had this

My nephew had this 2? years ago. Our family had a cabin on the Cedar River, which he frequented. He hunts all the time! He got a sore, (On the front part of his leg, half way between his foot & ankle). The doctors were treating it as though it were a brown recluse spider bite. It continued to get worse.
I take a lot of ''health safety courses'', partly because of my job; mostly because it fascinates me. I am an addict on Discovery Health Channel.
My sister called me & asked if I would look @ his sore. My response was, ''trust the doctors, honey, I'm a peaon.'' I went anyway... she's my baby sister. I looked at that sore & got shivers. There had been a recent night that I couldn't sleep. In the wee hours of the morning I watched a Discovery Health program. A man was very ill. As I layed on my couch trying to sleep, I saw a sore that looked just like the one my nephew had on his leg. I looked @ my sis & said, ''I don't have a clue what it is. If they made a documentary about this you need to RUN, NOT WALK, to your doctor & demand answers''. She saw Dr. Smith...Dr. Smith immediately referred him to Dr. Atwell.
Dr. Atwell had him in surgery within hours. They cleaned out the sore. We were told that it was the ''flesh eating disease'', and that had we waited another day, it would have spread to the bone & they would have had to amputate. He was in the hospital for a few days, put on some very strong antibiotics, (not fun!). But he is ok. I call the ''sleepness evening watching the Discovery Channel'', a God moment.
Don't ignore those sores. Watch them. My nephew is alive today & hunts with 2 legs. Educate yourselves & listen to your guts; & (the spirit).