Lynbrook wrestler diagnosed with MRSA
A Lynbrook High School wrestler was diagnosed last week with MRSA, a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection, but school officials said he did not have to be hospitalized and is already back at school.
"It's a scary thing," said Lynbrook athletic director Tom Graham.
The school district's superintendent, Santo Barbarino, and Graham said Monday they sent a letter to parents of other members of the team last week informing them of the MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) diagnosis. They would not identify the student or team, citing privacy laws. Parents of three Lynbrook wrestlers confirmed receiving the letter.
The student was treated last week by his dermatologist and cleared to return to school, the school officials said. He has been restricted from athletic competition for precautionary reasons and cannot return until he is granted additional medical clearance, Graham said. The wrestler last competed in a meet against Chaminade and Mineola high schools on Jan. 7. Chaminade coach George Dlugolonski said the wrestler on his team who faced the infected student on Jan. 7 has been checked and remains healthy. MRSA is transferred by blood-to-blood contact.
Last year, Hauppauge High School wrestler Nick Mauriello Jr. spent 19 days in the hospital after contracting a near-fatal case of MRSA and Lemierre's syndrome, a rare life-threatening infection.
The struggle faced by Mauriello, who is back wrestling this season, has prompted Long Island school officials to intensify efforts to educate coaches, parents and athletes about preventing the spread of infectious skin diseases, which include ringworm, herpes and MRSA.
Graham said the student's mother became concerned two weekends ago because of a pimple that was getting worse and sought medical attention. "I think the fact we've been more educated about this stuff, we've been able to stay on top," he said. "The parents have been informed, and in this particular case they knew what to look for."
According to Dr. Robert Bruckstein, a dermatologist in Lawrence, early detection of MRSA is key. "You want to get it before it becomes systemwide, where treatment becomes much more difficult," he said. "You want to treat it in its earliest stages."
MRSA can be difficult to treat because some strains of the bacteria have become resistant to certain antibiotics. According to the National Institutes of Health, treatment often includes draining the abscess followed by a cocktail of antibiotics for more severe cases.
School officials do not believe the student contracted MRSA from athletic activity at the school
"But when you have a situation like this, you can't assume anything," Graham said. "So we cleaned every possible area that the kid was in."
They also contacted the Nassau County Board of Health and the state athletic association for guidance. According to Barbarino, the board of health discouraged them from alerting the school community to avoid causing undue concern. A board of health spokeswoman did not return a call for comment Monday.
According to a New York State Department of Health memo to school superintendents in 2008 regarding MRSA, "Typically, it is not necessary to inform the entire school community about a single MRSA infection."
"We still felt it was necessary for families [of teammates] to know," Graham said.
With Hank Winnicki
