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StaphAseptic™ News
MRSA: Local Company Offers Free Kit to Help Oregon Schools Fight Back against Rising Staph Infections
December 11, 2006
Albany, OR - For nearly 30 years, Tec Laboratories, the makers of Tecnu Oak and Ivy products, has targeted a common health problem and then set out to solve it better than anyone else. After seeing a dramatic increase in potentially deadly staph infections, specifically those caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), Tec Labs went on a mission. The result is StaphAseptic, an over-the-counter wound care treatment for cuts, scrapes and abrasions, which prevents MRSA infections by killing the bacteria that cause them. To help schools become educated about the growing MRSA threat to athletes and students, Tec Labs has created a complimentary MRSA education prevention kit, free for the asking.
"About 10 years ago my brother, our vice president of operations, got a staph infection after he nicked himself shaving," said Steve Smith, president and chief executive officer of Tec Labs. "That incident was the catalyst for developing StaphAseptic. The recent outbreaks of MRSA simply added a sense of urgency. We've been thankful that chains with a strong Oregon presence like Fred Meyer, Bi-Mart, Rite Aid and Ray's took the product in immediately. The free kit is a way for us to help the schools fight a growing problem."
MRSA - A Ticking Time Bomb
According to Dr. Dave Bearden, a clinical associate professor at Oregon State University and a clinician specializing in infectious diseases, MRSA has kept a low profile in hospitals for over 20 years, but has recently reared its head outside of hospitals. "Since 2000 we have increasingly seen MRSA as a growing cause of infection outside of the hospital," says Bearden. "Recent reports suggest that nearly 60% of all pus-forming skin infections in emergency rooms across the country are caused by MRSA. Limiting the spread of the organism in schools and sports will continue to be a major problem."
Dr. Bearden also points out the impact MRSA has had in sports. "The St. Louis Rams made headlines in the New England Journal of Medicine for a well publicized outbreak of MRSA skin infections," says Bearden. "Infection has also been well documented in otherwise healthy children, and athletes at all levels. This MRSA strain appears to be more aggressive than other strains of bacteria, and has caused severe infections." Additionally, the Cleveland Browns football team has been hit hard, losing several players to MRSA staph infection.
Dr. Peter Coelho, a physician who works with athletes at California's San Benito High School is also worried about the effect on schools and athletics. "This bug scares the daylights out of me. It's a ticking time bomb in high school sports, especially football and wrestling...It's only a matter of time," said Coelho. Other parts of the country have also begun battling the super bug. Last month three schools in Ohio's York City school district were closed due to a staph infection outbreak.
What Can People Do to Try and Avoid a MRSA Infection?
"In non-infected patients, hand washing, coverage and care of wounds, and limiting shared personal items (e.g., towels, razors) are important. Patients infected with MRSA should take caution to limit exposure of the wound to others," says Bearden.
Cuts, scrapes and abrasions are common entry points for MRSA bacteria that lead to staph infection. StaphAseptic is applied to minor wounds to kill the bacteria to help prevent a MRSA related staph infection.
About the MRSA Educational Kit
The kit can be obtained by calling 1-800-482-4464 and pushing "0". There is a limit of one free kit per school. The kit contains educational pamphlets, suggestions for a MRSA prevention program and free sample packets of StaphAseptic, if requested. General MRSA information is available at www.StaphAseptic.com and www.cdc.gov.
About Tec Labs
Tec Laboratories, Inc. is an innovator of over-the-counter topical pharmaceuticals and the developer of breakthrough technologies in this area. Founded in 1977, Tec Labs has been protecting consumers and industrial workers for more than 29 years. Their product line includes Tecnu, Tecnu Extreme, Calagel, Licefreee! and Corticool.
In April 2006, Tec Labs ranked #1 overall in The Scientist magazine's Best Places to Work in Industry Survey. The survey was conducted among companies from 21 countries, including the U.S., Canada and Europe.
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