Frank H. Sippy, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

18 October 2007

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Part of our mission in Region 15 is to maintain the health and welfare of everyone in the Region 15 community.  Consequently, I want to provide you with some proactive information regarding staph infections.  As you may be aware, two confirmed cases of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus infection) were reported in western Connecticut .  We consulted with Dr. Richard Biondi, the District’s medical advisor, for guidance.  The information provided below will help provide you with preventative measures you can take at home.  I am also providing you with the proactive steps we are taking in Region 15. 

 Please do the following to the best of your ability at home:

1.       Emphasize to children of all ages the need to wash their hands several times during the day, when they return home, before dinner, before bed time, and after using the bathroom.

2.       Use a disinfectant daily in bathroom and kitchen areas.

3.       Keep any cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.  Be extra vigilant with athletes (even young children playing in the yard) who might get a cut or scrape in a game, at practice, or on a swing set.

4.       Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.

5.       Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

In the Region 15 Schools:

1.       We will step up our on-going efforts to ensure that children wash their hands multiple times throughout the day.

2.       I have instructed our custodial staff members at each school to use a generous supply of Lysol disinfectant, a cleaning product to be applied on all student desk tops and other surfaces with which students are normally in contact.  Additionally, we will clean all common surface areas, i.e., doorknobs, cupboard handles with Clorox disinfectant germicidal wipes.  These precautions should serve us well and are a part of our normal cleaning routine.

3.       Our school nurses and teachers will be vigilant for any signs of MRSA.  Symptoms include: skin infections that look like a pimple or a boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage.

      As is our normal routine, if your child is diagnosed with any contagious illness, please contact your school nurse.  Thank you for your help, and we will update you should more information become available.

                                                                                  Sincerely,     

                                                                                 Frank H. Sippy

FHS/GIU