MRSA levels hold steady in Lowcountry, hygiene encouraged

The rate of methicillan-resistant staphylococcus, or MRSA, is holding steady in the Lowcountry, area health experts say.

While it's difficult to track the number of MRSA infections that occur outside of hospitals, anecdotally at least, the rate has appeared to plateau, after an increase beginning about three years ago.

The type of patients developing MRSA, however, is becoming more varied.

"It used to be in high school athletes, but it's working its way down to younger students," said Dale Haselden, infectious control practitioner for Trident Health Systems.

The nonprofit arm of Trident's parent company, HCA, launched a hand-washing awareness campaign aimed at elementary school students. The floppy haired "Hannah Montana" star Mitchel Musso is teaching students how to stay clean and MRSA free.

MRSA is a type of staph infection that is resistant to a certain family of antibiotics. The infections begin as a minor cut or sore that does not heal and may worsen rapidly into an abscess. The bacteria is transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or touching an item that has come into contact with someone's infection.

"In general, schools are not a risk for the average student," said Dr. Cassandra Salgado, hospital epidemiologist at Medical University of South Carolina. Athletic environments — gyms, locker rooms and showers — are a risk setting, she said.

Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.