Young children seem to constantly have cuts and scrapes from outside play and their fascination with dirt, causing many parents to worry about the bacterial infection known as MRSA. Dr. Steven Buckingham, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital infectious disease physician and medical director of microbiology for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, debunks the myth that MRSA is spread through dirt and explains signs to look for.
It would be very rare to acquire MRSA from playing in the dirt, as it isn't something you'd find in the soil. It's a human organism, not an environmental organism, meaning it is spread from person-to-person. Many people also believe that MRSA infections are contracted through a gym or athletic setting, but that is not the only place MRSA spreads. Many non-athletes get MRSA, too.
The bottom line is if your child’s cut becomes infected, you should watch for signs of MRSA because it can be contracted anywhere. Symptoms to watch for are swelling, redness and any oozing from the wound.
If you notice any of these, it’s best to call your child’s pediatrician. The infection may require an office visit where an examination and possibly a wound culture would be done. As for treating an infection, usually an ointment or oral antibiotic is prescribed.
