Florida School Cleans and Disinfects Classroom After Student Contracts MRSA

In May, several media outlets reported that a student from a school in South Florida had been diagnosed with a highly contagious bacterial skin infection. A school health aide first noticed a suspicious sore on the child and the student was then sent to a local hospital where a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection was confirmed.

In response, the school temporarily removed students from the classroom they shared with the infected child to clean and disinfect the room. Infections due to MRSA are most likely to be spread in places where people are in close contact with others. Traditionally, most MRSA infections were related to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), but in recent years these infections have been on the rise in community settings.

The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) encourages teachers, coaches and staff to look for signs and symptoms of community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections and refer any individuals to their healthcare providers. They are also asked to report outbreaks to their local county health department.

“MRSA infections are typically spread by having contact with someone’s skin infection,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “It may also occur from contact with personal items that have come in contact with MRSA or by touching contaminated surfaces. Fortunately, this case was detected early and school administrators took steps to clean and disinfect places that the student may have come in contact with to prevent the spread of the bacteria.”

With multiple laboratories in Florida and dozens more across North America, EMSL Analytical, Inc. provides assistance in these types of situations with surface testing for MRSA, C. diff and other superbugs. Testing is instrumental for confirming cleaning and disinfection procedures in schools, hospitals and other sensitive environments. This same testing can also be helpful for pinpointing the source of an outbreak if one has already occurred.

To educate school administrators, parents, teachers, students and the public about environmental cleaning and disinfecting for MRSA, EMSL has sponsored an online video that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/OLBXny-FuBk.

For more information about MRSA and microbial testing or other environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com .


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 8563032503

Contact via E-mail