Staph Infections

Although most staph infections occur in people in hospitals, they can also occur in healthy, nonhospitalized people. In fact, many healthy people carry staph bacteria without ever getting sick. But when the skin is punctured or broken, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection.

Reports of staph infections have been in the news recently. The infection being reported on is known as "MRSA," which is short for methicillin-resistant staph aureus. MRSA is a bacterial infection of the skin that is resistant to the more common forms of antibiotics.

To help Putnam City parents keep their children healthy, we're providing the latest fact sheet from the Oklahoma City-County Health Department. You may also wish to visit the Centers for Disease Control website page on MRSA in schools.

To see a letter sent home with all Putnam City students on Nov. 20, 2007, click here.

To read comments from Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, visit the CBS News website.