Staph invades multiple schools

New outbreaks of staph infection were reported in a half dozen more suburban schools Thursday, causing a parochial school in Aurora to be closed and countless desktops to be scrubbed with hospital-grade disinfectants.

But it's unclear whether the so-called superbug cases in several suburbs represent an unusually high number, or a blip triggered by a Virginia student's death and a government report estimating the bug kills nearly 19,000 Americans a year.

Holy Angels Catholic School, 720 Kensington Place in Aurora, was closed Thursday after it was notified there is a confirmed case of MRSA at the school. Principal Norb Rozanski said health officials would not divulge whether the case involves a student or faculty member.

Meanwhile, new cases of staph were reported at schools in Naperville, Rolling Meadows, Gurnee, Huntley, Streamwood, Schiller Park, Bellwood, Woodstock and Joliet Township.

MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a strain of bacteria that can be found in the nasal passages, skin or bodily secretions but does not necessarily produce the disease.

There is no cause for panic, health officials said, while also urging hand-washing and proper wound care. The infection spreads through skin-to-skin contact and shared personal items such as towels and razors.

"We've … had steady, intermittent reports from schools and correctional facilities over the past couple of years" of drug-resistant staph infections, said Dr. Craig Conover of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Drug-resistant staph bacteria are not as common as regular staph. About 30 percent of people harbor common staph bacteria on their skin and in their noses without symptoms.

But some strains have become resistant to mainline antibiotics. MRSA can turn deadly if it enters the bloodstream or lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-destroying infection.

And while the chances of that are low, local schools are taking precautions.

At Holy Angels in Aurora, 57 staff members and some parents are cleaning lockers and anything the 644 students may have touched. Any clothes or items found in students' lockers will be sent home Friday in sealed plastic bags for parents to wash.

The school is expected to reopen today.

"We are making sure and doing what we have to do for the students' safety," Rozanski said.

The state's second-largest school district, Elgin Area School District U-46, reported one case of MRSA at Canton Middle School in Streamwood.

Spokesman Tony Sanders said that, according to the CDC, one case does not constitute an outbreak, and the school will remain open. U-46 sent a letter to all students' homes, pledging to keep all "high-risk" areas of the school thoroughly clean and advising students of the importance of maintaining good hygiene.

In Gurnee, Woodland District 50 Superintendent Joy Swoboda sent a letter Wednesday to middle school parents, saying a child at Woodland Middle School is being treated for MRSA and is expected back soon.

In Huntley, officials with Unit District 158 canceled after-school activities at the Reed Road campus Thursday to ensure custodians had enough time to thoroughly clean the buildings. One student at Martin Elementary School was diagnosed with the staph infection.

Lake County Health Department spokeswoman Leslie Piotrowski said local agencies aren't required to track individual MRSA cases, so it's unknown how many exist in the suburbs.

However, state health officials have proposed a rule change requiring health care providers to report three or more lab-confirmed cases during a two-week period to local health departments.

At the John G. Conyers Learning Academy in Rolling Meadows, one student was diagnosed with MRSA a few weeks ago. This week, when another student was infected, Palatine Township Elementary District 15 called in an eight-person crew to clean the school, said Assistant Superintendent James Garwood.

In Naperville, where two freshman football players were infected with MRSA earlier this month, five other students may be ill, school officials said Thursday.

In Indian Prairie Unit District 204, one student at Neuqua Valley Frontier campus has been diagnosed and is being treated; a second student, in the Prairie Children Preschool, was treated five weeks ago and was cleared to return to school.

In Naperville Unit District 203, where the football players play for Naperville North, three other students are being tested. District 203 has "super cleaned" all high school and junior high school locker rooms and Superintendent Alan Leis said the district is cleaning daily.

District 203 has been "staph infection central" since it announced it had two infected students.

"We now have a stampede of all the Chicago media on our doorstep," said Melea Smith, District 203 spokeswoman. Officials don't regret alerting parents, but at a recent meeting of school communication directors, Smith said she told them their turn may be next.

"I said to my fellow school PR people, it's in your district. It's there. You may or may not know about it, but it's there."

Latest outbreaks of staph infection

More cases were reported Thursday at schools around the suburbs.

Aurora: One current case at Holy Angels Catholic School. School was closed Thursday.

Gurnee: One current case at Woodland Middle School.

Huntley: One current case at Martin Elementary School.

Naperville: District 204 reported Thursday one current case of MRSA at Neuqua Valley Frontier Campus; a student at Prairie Children Preschool was treated 5 weeks ago but is back in school.

Rolling Meadows: Two MRSA students reported at John G. Conyers Learning Academy. One being treated now; other is recovered and back in class.

Streamwood: One current case reported Thursday at Canton Middle School.

Staph and MRSA at a glance

What trouble can a staph infection cause?

It can cause an infection -- staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. Most are minor (pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics. Staph bacteria also can cause serious infections, like surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia.

What is MRSA?

MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, about 1% is colonized with MRSA.

How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections?

• Keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water; or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.

• Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.

• Avoid sharing personal items like towels, razors, washcloths, clothing or uniforms that may have had contact with an infected wound or bandage.

• Wash sheets, towels and clothes with water and detergent. Dry clothes in a hot dryer rather than air-drying, which helps kill bacteria.

Source: Center for Disease Control