MRSA Advisory

If you have heard or read about MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) in our area schools, this message is to remind and advise you on how to protect yourself from possible MRSA skin infection.

MRSA skin infections are usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared infected items or surfaces, e.g. towels, used bandages. The infections appear as boils which are often red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage; and they most often appear in areas of the body where cuts and abrasions have occurred, or areas of the body covered by hair.

To protect yourself we advise that you:

• Keep your hands clean by washing with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and shower immediately after exercising;
• Cover skin trauma such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage until healed;
• Avoid sharing personal items e.g., towels, razors; and use a towel or clothing as a barrier between your skin and shared equipment or benches;
• Frequently clean surfaces that are often touched or that come in direct contact with people’s skin.

At Muskegon Community College, all restrooms are supplied with disinfectant soap; and hand sanitizers are available in our library, information commons, and computer laboratories. If you have a skin infection of concern, we recommend that you contact your physician.

More information about MRSA is available from the Muskegon County Health Department or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention . If you have any questions the college contact person is Joseph Doyle, Associate Vice President of Administration: 777.0300, or email at Joe.Doyle@muskegoncc.edu.