There was a time, not too long ago, when Methycillin Resistant Staph Aureus, or MRSA, was an infection found only in hospitals and nursing homes. These days, however, as every college health professional knows, it is a great deal more ubiquitous and it’s not just those with a weakened immune system at risk.

The biggest question is this: how do you stop an isolated infection from becoming a rapidly-spreading outbreak? The press would have us believe that cleaning every surface of gyms and locker rooms is what it takes to keep MRSA at bay, but in reality, although cleaning certain items (particularly gym equipment and mats) is helpful, educating those who have the infection and those who are at risk of getting it is far more effective. Attendees of Nuesoft Xpress’ online roundtable on MRSA on March 5 discussed how to achieve this, how to deal with the public relations side of an outbreak, and best practice when students present with skin lesions. If you missed it, you can find the notes and slides here. Nuesoft Xpress holds these roundtables monthly on a variety of topics relevant to college health; to keep an eye on what’s coming up, bookmark this page.