Officials with the Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin school systems are taking precautions to prevent the spread of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

Dale Henderson, superintendent of the Iberia Parish school system, said recently the safety of students is the school system's No. 1 priority.

"Our maintenance department, custodial staff and nursing department have all been involved in doing everything possible to contain this particular situation," Hen-derson said. "Our custodial staff is making sure all hard surfaces, and equipment such as floors, light switches, door handles, hand rails, water fountains, tables and desks are cleaned frequently."

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MRSA is a type of staph infection that often causes skin infections and is resistant to many antibiotics including penicillin.

According to officials with the Iberia Parish school system, MRSA often appears as a spider bite, turf burn, abscess, boil, impetigo or an infected wound.

In a press release recently sent out to all principals in the school system from Harry Lopez, general manager of maintenance for the Iberia Parish School Board, he said MRSA can be acquired by touching someone's infected skin or touching surfaces that have MRSA on them.

"Also anyone can catch MRSA by sharing personal hygiene items, not having the resources to keep clean and overusing antibiotics," Lopez said. "Frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent MRSA. The disinfectant that we are using is the greatest weapon against all forms of staph and viruses."

Last week parents also received a precautionary letter from Girdie Moncla, head nurse of the Iberia Parish school system, alerting them of MRSA.

"We want to alert parents about MRSA so they know what to look for and how to handle the 'super bug,' " Moncla said.

Donald Aguillard, superintendent of the St. Mary Parish school system, also wants parents to know the St. Mary Parish School Board is committed to keeping school environments safe for all students and workers.

"All equipment, materials and areas of frequent use will be sanitized frequently," he said. "With the recent media attention on the issue of staph infection, I want to reassure the community that the school system recognizes the most recent threat to the safety of our students. Many school systems throughout the country are dealing with this public health issue and schools in St. Mary Parish are committed to a proactive approach."

Aguillard said there have been no confirmed cases of MRSA staph infection in any schools in his parish.

"Parental assistance is requested in communicating to children the necessity of proper hand washing techniques and the avoidance of sharing objects that could transmit bacteria," Aguillard said.

Richard Lavergne, superintendent of the St. Martin Parish school system, said information about MRSA has been sent to all schools in the district.

"In researching information, I have learned that anyone can catch this MRSA staph infection," Lavergne said. "Our custodians are making sure that everything is clean in our schools. The staff and I are advising everyone to wash their hands and stay clean."

Lavergne said in the upcoming days representatives with the office of public health will come in and do a presentation for all principals about the importance of MRSA.

"MRSA is something that we are aware of," he said. "We want to keep a good environment and make sure all of our facilities are safe."