Fact Sheet: MRSA in Children

Cover children's cuts and scrapes to help protect against MRSA.

Although staph bacteria exists naturally in the environment, it can cause infection if it enters the body through a cut or other break in the skin. MRSA is the abbreviation for methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an infectious Staphylococcus bacteria that is resistant to some antibiotics. Many parents are concerned about the risk of MRSA in children because of media reports of serious illness, or even death, due to the condition.

History

Traditionally, staph infections such as MRSA, were found mostly in hospitals and health care facilities. However, in the 1980s, MRSA infections began to occur in young, healthy people outside of those settings. This type is now referred to as community-associated MRSA or CA-MRSA. The most deadly type of CA-MRSA causes necrotizing fasciitis, a life-threatening infection that rapidly kills soft tissue.

Risk Factors

Children are at greater risk of contracting MRSA than the general population for several reasons. First, their immune systems may not be fully developed thereby making them more susceptible to illness. In addition, many children are active in team or contact sports and skin-to-skin contact is known to increase the risk of MRSA infection. Finally, children are more prone to share personal items, such as towels, which may also spread infection.

Symptoms

According to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, MRSA infections appear as an area of small red bumps, boils or pimples that may look like an insect bite. The stomach, buttocks and legs are commonly infected sites. These bumps or pimples may become swollen, pus-filled, and painful. They may turn into painful abscesses that require draining by a medical professional.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Children don't always pay careful attention to hygiene, so you should keep an eye on insect bites, cuts and scrapes. Make sure wounds are clean and covered with a bandage. If the wound doesn't heal or shows signs of infection, call your doctor and ask for a MRSA test before agreeing to antibiotic therapy.

Precautions

The medical experts at Arkansas Children's Hospital recommend a number of simple precautions to guard against MRSA. First, make sure children wash their hands frequently with warm water and soap. Cover wounds with a bandage and check them frequently for infection. Also, teach your children not to share items such as towels, razors, deodorant and sports equipment.

If your child is a member of a sports team, check with the coach or school district to make sure policies are in place to protect young athletes from MRSA and other infectious diseases. Common sense precautions include regular cleaning of shared exercise equipment and regular assessments of athletes for skin conditions.

References

• Arkansas Children's Hospital Resources
• The University of Texas at Austin: Environmental Health and Safety
• Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics