Blogs > Hamilton in focus

Covering Hamilton and Robbinsville townships in-depth for The Trentonian. I can be reached at (609) 989-7800 ext. 207 or (609) 468-6962. Email me at mmacagnone@trentonian.com or follow me @awisefool.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Clarification: four MRSA cases at Steinert


A story in Tuesday's Trentonian said there were six cases of MRSA at Steinert High School. Jeff Plunkett, the township health officer, said that number was incorrect.

There have been four cases of MRSA and two cases of staph infections at the school. Two of the students were hospitalized.

He said MRSA infections need to be confirmed by culture tests and the staph infections were far less serious than MRSA.

The district went above and beyond its obligations in dealing with the infections, he said, especially by informing the health department and the public of the issue.

MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, a form of staph bacteria that does not respond to typical antibiotics used to treat such infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control website.

According to the website, people can reduce their risk of catching the infection by keeping their hands clean, keeping open wounds covered and not sharing personal items such as razors or towels.

Symptoms of the infection include reddening and swelling of the infected skin, as well as pus accumulation. Infections can also spread from the skin and become more serious, according to the website.

People seeking more information can also call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

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