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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MRSA infections are skin infections that may appear as pustules or boils which often are red, swollen, painful or have pus or other drainage. These skin infections commonly occur at sites of visible skin trauma, such as cuts and abrasions and areas of the body covered by hair (e.g., back of neck, groin, buttock, armpit, beard area of men).

Almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated by drainage of pus with or without antibiotics. More serious infections, such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or bone infections, are very rare in healthy people who get MRSA skin infections.

MRSA is most often spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching shared items or surfaces that have been in contact with an infected wound, such as towels or used bandages.

• Encourage regular handwashing and good hygiene
• Keep cuts, scrapes, and wounds covered with a clean, dry bandage until fully healed
• Teach your child not to share personal items like towels, razors, or clothing
• Use a towel or clothing as a barrier between skin and shared surfaces (e.g., gym equipment)
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and any items that come in contact with skin

The decision to close a school for any communicable disease should be made by school officials in consultation with local and/or state public health officials. However, in most cases, it is not necessary to close schools because of a MRSA infection in a student. It is important to note that MRSA transmission can be prevented by simple measures such as hand hygiene and covering infections.

Covering infections will greatly reduce the risks of surfaces becoming contaminated with MRSA. In general it is not necessary to close schools to "disinfect" them when MRSA infections occur. MRSA skin infections are transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact and contact with surfaces that have come into contact with someone else’s infection.

Yes.

Unless directed by a physician, students with MRSA infections should not be excluded from attending school. Exclusion from school and sports activities should be reserved for those with wound drainage ("pus") that cannot be covered and contained with a clean, dry bandage and for those who cannot maintain good personal hygiene.

MRSA Website

Indiana State Department of Health