Weslaco East cleans deep after discovery of four Staph infections
WESLACO – Doctors believe skin infections in four Weslaco East High School football players were caused by Staph bacteria, Superintendent Richard Rivera said Wednesday.
One infected player, a freshman, was admitted to Knapp Medical Center over the weekend. And after learning of his hospitalization Monday, the district found three other athletes with infections, Rivera said.
In response, school system officials hired a professional disinfecting company to assist custodians in a day-long effort to scrub and hose down the school’s athletic rooms.
“We don’t know where the bacteria originated,” said Rivera. “With four students from the same high school, we have to focus on cleaning that dressing room.”
The freshman’s condition has improved but doctors would keep monitoring him, Rivera said Wednesday.
The three other players received oral medication for what the superintendent called “minor” skin infections. Each was barred from practices and games until further notice.
Staph infections are not airborne, but individuals can transmit the bacteria through body contact. In serious cases, the bacteria can develop immunities to antibiotics and become Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
MRSA is easily spread in areas commonly associated with crowded conditions, open cuts or sores and skin-to-skin contact such as athletic facilities and dormitories. It can also lead to the development of other, potentially life-threatening infections such as pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
As of Wednesday, doctors had not yet determined if the Staph bacteria at Weslaco East originated from the players’ hygiene practices or the common changing and gym areas.
“We are now asking all students to do what they should’ve always been doing – washing their hands, cleaning their game gear,” Rivera said.
The district is working with the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department and the football team physician to draft a notice for parents describing proper hygiene techniques and how to recognize a possible skin infection.
In the meantime, deep-cleaning had begun even before school started Wednesday.
The high school’s four-man custodial staff removed fridges and benches in order to wash and rinse the athletic rooms. They were later joined by the professional disinfectant company which soaped, scrubbed and hosed down bathrooms, hallways and showers during football practice.
School officials said they planned to release a more potent spray after students and employees left for the day to completely sanitize the area.
The district will continue cleaning at the high school tomorrow and on a revolving basis, eventually extending the efforts to athletic facilities across the district.
So far, only a few concerned parents had called in response to the Staph reports, Principal Sue Peterson said.
“Our parents trust us to take care of things,” she said. “Others (outside of Weslaco) may not know how well we respond to any issue.”
_____
Neal Morton covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4472.
