Center for Disease Control website http://www.cdc.gov/
Overview of
Community-Associated MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a
type of staph that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These
antibiotics include methicillin and other more common
antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and
amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur
most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as
nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened
immune systems (see healthcare-associated
MRSA).
MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently
(within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical
procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA
infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community
are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur
in otherwise healthy people.
How can I treat a head lice infestation?
The most important step
in treating a head lice infestation is to treat the person and other family
members with head lice with medication to kill the lice. Wash clothing and
bedding worn or used by the infested person in the 2-day period just before
treatment is started.
Treat the infested person: Requires using an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription
medication. Follow these treatment steps:
1.
Before
applying treatment, remove all clothing from the waist up.
2.
Apply
lice medicine, also called pediculicide (peh-DICK-you-luh-side), according to label instructions. If
your child has extra long hair (longer than shoulder length), you may need to
use a second bottle. Pay special attention to instructions on the bottle
regarding how long the medication should be left on and whether rinsing the
hair is recommended after treatment.
WARNING: Do not use a creme rinse or
combination shampoo/conditioner before using lice medicine. Do not re-wash hair
for 1-2 days after treatment.
3.
Have
the infested person put on clean clothing after treatment.
4.
If
a few live lice are still found 8-12 hours after treatment, but are moving more
slowly than before, do not retreat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of
the hair. The medicine may take longer to kill lice.
5.
If,
after 8-12 hours of treatment, no dead lice are found and lice seem as active
as before, the medicine may not be working. See your health care provider for a
different medication; follow treatment directions.
6.
Nit
(head lice egg) combs, often found in lice medicine packages, should be used to
comb nits and lice from the hair shaft. Many flea combs made for cats and dogs
are also effective.
7.
After
treatment, check hair and comb with a nit comb to remove nits and lice every
2-3 days. Continue to check for 2-3 weeks until you are sure all lice and nits
are gone.
8.
If
using OTC pediculicides, retreat in 7-10 days. If
using the prescription drug malathion,
retreat in 7-10 days ONLY if crawling bugs are found. Click
here for instructions on how to use malathion
to treat head lice.
Treat the household: Head lice do not survive long if they fall off a person
and cannot feed. You don't need to spend a lot of time or money on
housecleaning activities. Follow these steps to help avoid re-infestation by
lice that have recently fallen off the hair or crawled onto clothing or
furniture.
1.
To
kill lice and nits, machine wash all washable clothing
and bed linens that the infested person wore or used during the 2 days before
treatment. Use the hot water (130°F) cycle. Dry laundry using high heat for at
least 20 minutes.
2.
Dry
clean clothing that is not washable, (coats, hats, scarves, etc.).
OR
Store
all clothing, stuffed animals, comforters, etc., that cannot be washed or dry
cleaned into a plastic bag; seal for 2 weeks.
3.
Soak
combs and brushes for 1 hour in rubbing alcohol, Lysol*, or wash with soap and
hot (130°F) water.
4.
Vacuum
the floor and furniture. The risk of getting re-infested from a louse that has
fallen onto a carpet or sofa is very small. Don't spend a lot of time on this.
Just vacuum the places where the infested person usually sits or lays. Do not
use fumigant sprays; they can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Prevent Reinfestation: Lice are most commonly spread
directly by head-to-head contact and much less frequently by lice that have crawled
onto clothing or belongings. As a short-term measure to control a head lice
outbreak in a community, school, or camp, you can teach children to avoid
playtime and other activities that are likely to spread lice.
- Avoid head-to-head contact common during play at
school and at home (sports activities, on a playground, slumber parties,
at camp).
- Do not share clothing, such as hats, scarves, coats,
sports uniforms, or hair ribbons.
- Do not share infested combs, brushes, or towels.
- Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or
stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infested
person.
The CDC says Flu Season is here!
The single best way
to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each fall.
There are two types of vaccines:
- The "flu shot"—an inactivated vaccine
(containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm.
The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including
healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
- The nasal-spray flu vaccine—a vaccine made with live,
weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated
Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 5 years to
49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Each vaccine contains three influenza
viruses—one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. The viruses in
the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and
scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate
in a given year.
About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies
that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.
School Health Issues
Flu Season and Schools
FAST FLU FACTS
Adapted from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
- Flu symptoms include fever,
headache, chills, body aches, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, and nasal
congestion.
- Flu is spread when a person who
has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and sends the flu virus into the
air. The virus enters the nose, throat or lungs of a person and
multiplies. Flu spreads less frequently when a person touches a surface
that has flu viruses on it.
- If you get the flu: rest, drink
plenty of liquids, and avoid alcohol and tobacco.
- Antibiotics like penicillin
will not cure the flu. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu
shot. However, in October 2004, the American flu vaccine supply was cut in
half. CDC and the U.S.-based influenza vaccine manufacturer have
prioritized the populations eligible for the limited supply. Initially,
priority populations include: hospital staff, long-term care providers,
nursing homes, and private providers who care for young children.
Additional priority populations eligible to receive vaccination with
inactivated influenza vaccine include all children aged 6-23 months,
adults 65 years of age and older, persons aged 2 to 64 years with underlying
chronic medical conditions, residents of nursing homes and long-term care
facilities, all women who will be pregnant during the influenza season,
children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on chronic aspirin therapy,
health care workers with direct patient care, out-of home caregivers and
household contacts of children under 6 months of age.
- Over-the-counter medications
may relieve symptoms of flu. The National Institute for Allergies &
Infectious Diseases recommends acetaminophen (Tylenol) for children;
aspirin or acetaminophen for adults. Decongestants, cough suppressants,
and use of a humidifier can provide symptomatic relief.
- Three antiviral medicines are
available by prescription that will help prevent flu infection: Tamiflu, Flumadine and Symmetrel.
- For more information from the CDC, go to
Questions & Answers: 2004-05 Flu Season http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/0405season.htm