September 2009

Flu Prevention

With school starting up again and the flu season approaching, more and more concerns are being voiced about possible H1N1 flu outbreaks.  Below is an article by Joanie Arrott about the importance of proper cleaning procedures and the importance of good hygiene.
Novel influenza A (H1N1) virus is transmitted by close contact with a person who has the virus.  In school settings, the main source of infection will have been removed once facility occupants have left.  However, the infection may occur if infectious particles, such as droplets from coughing, remain on interior surfaces and if those particles come into direct contact with a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth (e.g. by touching a contaminated surface and not properly washing hands).  Therefore, proper cleaning techniques AND hand hygiene are both essential tools in handling infection and preventing future exposure.

Read More

Staph Infection Precautions

Football season is here!  Along with the games we generally see an increase in the number of staph infections.  The article below covers what staph infections are and the best ways of preventing and dealing with potential outbreaks.

What is staph infection?
Staph infections are caused by the staphylococcus aureus bacteria.  Staphylococcus aureus literally means “Golden Seed Cluster”.  It is a spherical bacterium, frequently living on the skin or in the nose of a person.  Approximately 20-30 percent of the general population is a carrier of “staph.”

Read More