Public health officials Thursday said Coloradans should practice basic hygiene - such as washing hands - to stop a "superbug" that killed a Virginia student and closed at least 21 schools in that state.

The officials emphasized that most cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, result in minor skin problems, not invasive infections that shut down major organs.

"The average person should be aware of it and somewhat concerned - not panicky," said Dr. Ken Gershman, the state health department's chief of communicable diseases.

Dr. Connie Price of Denver Health said closing schools in Virginia was probably an overreaction to the student's death. The disease is not associated with schools more than other public places.

"You can't stay holed up in your house for the rest of your life," Price said.

MRSA is a bacteria that is resistent to antibiotics.

It is usually carried on the skin or the lining of the nose.

Most cases result in skin problems ranging from pimples to boils. But the bacteria can enter the blood stream through a cut and release toxins or attack any organ in the body, Gershman said.

"It can wreak havoc. You can get sick and sometimes die," Gershman said.

At least 1 percent of Americans are carrying the bacteria on their skin, but few get sick, Gershman said.

About 94,000 Americans contracted life-threatening MRSA infections in 2005, and 19,000 of those people died, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Most of the serious cases occur in hospitals, where the bacteria enter the body through surgical incisions, the CDC reports. People over age 65 were more likely to contract MRSA than younger people.

Many hospitals are taking steps to prevent the spread of the disease.

Denver Health screens patients to see whether they are carriers. People who test positive are separated from other patients, Price said.

Gershman said most hospitals are taking similar precautions after numerous articles in medical journals.

The health department has not issued alerts to schools, Gershman said.

But teachers should re-emphasize basic hygiene, such as hand-washing and cleaning wounds, Gershman said. Coaches should not let students share towels in the locker room.

Some CDC officials say the disease is becoming more common.

"This is a significant public health problem. We should be very worried," Scott K. Fridkin, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC, told The Washington Post.

Gershman said it's unclear whether cases are up or whether reporting is getting better.

"It's hard to know if it's a real phenomena or not," he said.

Gershman said he understands why the death of the Virginia student would raise concerns. But rare diseases strike people all the time.

"Those things happen, not just for MRSA. They happen with bacterial meningitis," Gershman said.

He added, "From a public health perspective, there's nothing unusual that happened there (Virginia) that doesn't happen once a week somewhere in the country."

Jefferson County Public Schools are not sending out special notices to teachers about MRSA because the district already teaches hygiene.

"It's just basic things - the scrubbing activity, good soap and washing with water. Taking time to do it," said Linda Buzard, the district's director of health services.

Tustin Amole, spokeswoman for the Cherry Creek School District, said the district has taken no steps, other than basic hygiene lessons. The district probably will reinforce those lessons with notes home if parents voice concern about MRSA, Amole said.

morsonb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303 954-5209

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