Tri-Parish schools take proactive stance on recent health issue

The state and Tri-parish school systems are taking precautions with the recent rise in “staph” skin infections all over the United States. Fortunately for the Tri-parishes, no cases have been reported, so parents shouldn’t be too alarmed.

Last week, the Louisiana Department of Education released a media advisory from the state Department of Health and Hospitals alerting school officials of the recent cases of staph infections in school-aged children in the state.

DOE spokesperson Cheryl Michelet said the alert is prompted because the infection is becoming resistant to many antibiotics. She said this could lead to severe cases of the infection in children.

“Skin infections are not really counted so there isn’t an accurate number,” Michelet said of the statewide cases. “We are more concerned with the prevention of the infection.”

“The most important thing I want to stress to parents and to schools is that this situation is very manageable,” State Superintendent Paul Pastorek said in a news release. “We have the ability to reduce the risk to our children. The DOE and DHH have informed superintendents statewide about the nature of this bacterium and the simple things that can be done in order to prevent the spread of it.”

Pastorek said superintendents have been asked to share the information with their schools “so that principals, teachers, students and their parents are well informed.”

St. Mary Parish Superintendent Dr. Donald Aguillard sent out a release to parents reassuring them that the school system recognizes the threat to the safety of its students.

“Many school systems throughout the country are dealing with this public health issue (staph infection),” Aguillard said. “St. Mary Parish Schools are committed to a proactive approach, deploying every resource necessary to provide a safe learning environment for all students.”

Terrebonne Parish School District Children Welfare Supervisor Linda Johnson said school nurses have shared information from the state department’s Web site with parish principals.

“We are making sure that the janitors thoroughly clean the building and the 12 health nurses on staff, including three part-time nurses, are talking to staff about proper hand washing and general hygiene,” Joseph said.

Calls to the Lafourche Parish School Board remained unreturned as of press time.

MRSA skin infections are generally spread by skin-to-skin contact or by direct contact with the infected wound. According to Dr. Raoult Ratard, a state epidemiologist, one percent of the population continually has the bacteria on their skin or in their nasal cavity.

The infection may also be spread by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

The infection is not spread through the air, but the physical and social environment of public facilities necessitates the implementation of additional preventative measures, Ratard said.

Parents are urged to contact a healthcare provider if they suspect a child may have contracted the infection. State law requires parents to inform school nurses of any diagnosed or suspected cases, Pastorek noted.