Protect Yourself and children from MRSA

Preventing 'staph' and MRSA infections?
As with most things, prevention is important to avoid these infections.
Understanding that 'staph' and MRSA is usually spread from having close contact with infected people can help you avoid these infections. In addition to direct physical contact, it may also be spread by 'indirect contact by touching objects (i.e., towels, sheets, wound dressings, clothes, workout areas, sports equipment) contaminated by the infected skin of a person with MRSA or staph bacteria.'
To avoid 'staph' and MRSA, the CDC recommends that you and your kids practice good hygiene, including:
Keeping your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water. Athletes should be encouraged to shower and wash with soap after all practices and competitions.
Keeping cuts and abrasions clean and covered with a proper dressing (e.g., bandage) until healed.
Avoiding contact with other people’s wounds or material contaminated from wounds, including towels, clothing and sports equipment.
If a family member is diagnosed with MRSA, it might be helpful to prevent its spread by treating all family members with Bactroban nasal ointment (to prevent colonization) and an antimicrobial wash, like Hibiclens. This 'decolonization' is controversial though and not all experts recommend it because of the concern that it might lead to even more resistance.
Most importantly, to prevent the continued spread of MRSA and other resistant bacteria, don't ask for antibiotics when your child has an infection that doesn't need it, like a cold or the flu. Although in the past, resistance simply meant that you might have to take 2 or 3 antiobitics to clear your child's ear or sinus infection, the consequences are becoming much more serious, as children are dying from these MRSA infections.