Jail officials keep up staph battle

The disease is more common in jails, hospitals, locker rooms and gyms.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County Jail officials say they've been vigilant in their efforts to contain a contagious staph infection since the disease was detected among inmates in October.
The disease, known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, was initially detected among three inmates, who were isolated from the rest of the jail population, officials said.
Since October, there have been six identified cases of MRSA and one suspected case, they said. Two of the inmates have been hospitalized for treatment.
Todd Haskins of PrimeCare Medical Services, which provides medical services to inmates, addressed the matter during a county prison board meeting earlier this week. He said the facility and the inmates have been disinfected.
Resists antibiotics
The disease, which often initially appears as a sore, blemish, boil or skin rash, is similar to other staph infections except that it is resistant to antibiotics commonly used to treat most staph, Haskins explained.
When a case becomes prolonged, or is worsened because treatment has not been administered soon enough, the patient might need to be hospitalized, he said. He added the disease is more common in closed places such as jails, hospitals, nursing homes, locker rooms, gymnasiums and high school sports arenas.
At first many people assume the sore they have has been caused by a spider bite, and not MRSA, Haskins said. And typically, the infection is spread by an open wound that has become infected or inflamed with the bacteria and often has a discharge. It eventually can enter the bloodstream and trigger a reaction, causing the person to become extremely ill.
Haskins said jail staff have instructed inmates to refrain from sharing towels, razors and soap, and from wearing one another's clothes. Inmates and staff have been instructed to wash their hands frequently with antibacterial soap, he said.
Jail officials said part of the problem has been inmates' failure to report their sores to jail staff because those inmates know they would be isolated from the general population until they were tested for the disease and, if necessary, treated for it.
"We've advised inmates to report any suspicious lesions," Haskins said. "We've disinfected the facility and continue taking every recommended precaution. I'm confident these efforts are working. & quot;