Info on MRSA and Influenza Vaccine

A few questions regarding the MRSA virus have surfaced from the Early Learning field. In response, the following info may be shared with them.
Feel free to include the info in your newsletters or e-mails to
practitioners.

The link that seems to be most supported by the Department of Health as well as ECELS/PA AAP is the CDC website. It outlines the specifics about MRSA that are particularly relevant. - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools/

Another resource is the DOH link -
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=178

&q=248839

There is also the more brief ECELS Health Link Online article about MRSA in the Fall 2007 issue (link below). The article references a very good California Child Care Health Programs fact sheet on MRSA.

http://www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org/content/9-12-07 v2 Fall 2007 HLOnline with insert.pdf>
http://www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org/content/9-12-07 v2 Fall 2007 HLOnline with insert.pdf

Additionally, ECELS does not recommend that programs post information that states that they are doing what is necessary to prevent MRSA. Posting information such as that may give families a false sense of security. More importantly, programs cannot fully prevent MRSA infections. About 25-30% of the population has the bacteria in their nose or on their skin. So, the bacteria is present, but does not cause an infection. If programs want to
post something, they could post general information about what they do for infection control, that covers all "germs".