Mother Recalls Son’s Battle With MRSA

THE DICKSON HERALD
Friday, 10/26/07

News that two Dickson County students have been diagnosed with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, has awakened some painful memories for another parent whose son battled the infection two and one-half years ago.

Kim Stringfield’s son, Justin Moore was a junior at Dickson County High School when he contracted the infection at Vanderbilt University Medical Center while recuperating from surgery following an accident.

“I knew about staph, but not MRSA. I researched it as much as possible, but wasn’t prepared for what it did to my son,” Stringfield said.

Her son’s accident occurred in June. He was in the hospital several times. Then in August he contracted MRSA after a surgery and fought it for about two months, she said.

“The antibiotic he took was both strong and expensive. He required a pic line, a long stint inserted into his body to allow intravenous medication to be administered at home. I had to administer the antibiotic twice a day for six weeks,” Stringfield said.

The cost of the medication was approximately $1,000 a month, which was followed by an oral antibiotic that cost another $1,000 a month.

“He carried a high fever and had a sore that grew from pin head to the size of a nickel in circumference and two inches deep into the skin. Basically his flesh was rotting away,” she said.

“We were required to stuff this sore with sterilized gauze twice a day and keep it covered. Vanderbilt operated on the spot to clean it out and they had a drain tube inserted in order for the infection to drain out,” Stringfield recalled.

Moore, who is 19 now and doing well, was out of school for a total of seven months, during which time he had to be home schooled. The MRSA was treated for two out of those seven months.

The memories brought back because of this recent outbreak in Dickson County High School and Charlotte Elementary School cause Stringfield “to fear for the spread of MRSA.”

“What we are seeing in the schools is known as CA-MRSA or community associated and is not quite as strong as the original form my son had, but as it spreads, it too may become resistant to the antibiotics that are used to treat it,” she said.

“It can be a deadly infection and I always assumed that if you contracted it in what should be the most sterile places of all, a hospital, then you could most definitely contract it during day to day contact,” Stringfield said.

Stringfield said she felt it is important for people to understand that the MRSA infection is slightly different than the CA-MRSA, which is in the school now. MRSA started out as staph and mutated into MRSA. There is the potential that CA-MRSA could evolve into a stronger infection than it is currently as it spreads.

“It is not to be taken lightly and as a parent I would be extremely concerned with any type of contact,” she added.

The two students in Dickson County are in school, according to Charlie Daniel, director of Dickson County Schools.

“According to the health care professional we consulted, it is alright for them to remain in school, as long as they are bandaged properly,” Daniel said.

Beth Allen, public information officer for the Mid-Cumberland Region of the State Department of Public Health, said the department’s doctors are not recommending schools be closed.

“The department of health is recommending proper hand hygiene as the simplest most effective method for preventing infections, including MRSA, both in the community and in a healthcare environment,” Allen said.

The growing prevalence of community-associated MRSA is also creating new challenges for the healthcare community.

In response, Horizon Medical Center, has initiated more aggressive infection control protocols to tackle this issue, as well as a proactive education campaign for patients, visitors and staff to prevent infections from occurring and spreading.

“Our hospital is focused on providing the highest quality care possible to our patients,” said John Marshall, CEO of Horizon Medical Center.

“Fortunately, stopping the spread of MRSA is something we know how to accomplish; it takes focus and discipline. In collaboration with our physicians, who share our commitment to quality patient care, we are initiating new protocols including screening high-risk patients for MRSA. The new protocols will ensure we can provide appropriate care and precautions in instances were patients test positive for MRSA upon arrival at the hospital,” Marshall said.

“Healthy individuals who have no symptoms of MRSA may unintentionally spread the bacteria to other,” said Carol Robertson, RN infection control nurse coordinator.
“Community-associated MRSA spreads through skin-to-skin contact, cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions and poor hygiene,” Robertson said.

“The Centers for Disease Control has documented clusters of MRSA skin infections among young, healthy people including athletes, military recruits and children. CDC data from 2003 suggests that 12 percent of clinical MRSA infections were community-associated. The frequency today is likely higher,” Robertson added.
The measured initiated at Horizon are being implemented at 170 hospitals across the nation under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, HCA’s chief medical officer. Perlin joined the company last fall after serving as chief executive officer of the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, where he initiated a similar program.

“Our hospitals are committed to safe, effective, efficient and compassionate care-that means eliminating avoidable hospital infections,” Perlin said.

“100 percent hand hygiene is the simplest, most effective method of preventing infections,” he added.

“We believe this important public health issue calls for public education, increased vigilance and even more stringent infection control protocols in our hospitals to assure the best outcomes for our patients. In short, cleans is safer, and safer is best,” Perlin said.

INFO BOX

According to Carol Robertson, RN infection control nurse coordinator, “we can all minimize our chance of spreading all kinds of infection by following these ABC steps:

•Active surveillance- monitor all wounds and keep them covered. If you have a skin infection, which requires treatment, ask our doctor if you should be tested.

•Barrier precautions-keep personal items personal-avoid sharing towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. MRSA spreads through contaminated items.

•Conscientious hand washing-your best defense against germs is soap and water and alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Thoroughly soap and scrub hands for at least 15 seconds, dry with a disposable towel and use another to turn off the faucet.

•Disinfect-clean shared items. If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in hot water with added bleach, then dry in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.

For more information about MRSA Beth Allen with the state Department of Public Health recommends viewing the Center for Disease Control Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov for questions and answers related to this bacteria.