Florida Schools React To Potential MRSA Outbreak

Earlier this month, MRSA was reported in several schools in Florida. With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting more than 11,000 MRSA-related deaths a year, these schools weren’t going to ignore the threat and increased their cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

After a person with a suspected case of MRSA visited five schools in the Palm Beach County district, custodials staffs there cleaned and disinfected according to CDC recommendations, according to an article in the Sun Sentinel.

Around the same time, a MRSA case was confirmed in Indian River County. Within an hour of learning a student at Osceola Magnet School had MRSA, the custodial staff began deep cleaning all contacted areas, according to WPTV. Custodians used an electrostatic sprayer and hospital-grade disinfectants.

To help prevent the spread of MRSA, the CDC highly recommends keeping hands clean by washing for 20 seconds with soap and water. If soap and water isn’t accessible, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

Custodians should clean and then disinfect surfaces that come into contact with a person’s bare skin, including chairs, desks, gym equipment, lockers, faucets and light switches.