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DEH CHO
The number of reported cases of the antibiotic resistant "superbug" methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is on the rise in the NWT but residents in the Deh Cho need not be as concerned as citizens in other regions, at least for now.

Dr. David Pontin, emergency room physician at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife, and Caroline Newberry, senior communicable disease specialist for the GNWT, say the best way to avoid contracting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is through preventative measures, such as washing your hands. Since August, there have been 122 reported cases of the antibiotic resistant bacteria in the NWT this year. Last year there was a total of 129 cases in the territory. - NNSL file photo

With less than five reported cases of the bacteria this year, the Deh Cho has one of the lowest rates of MRSA in the territory, according to Wanda White, manager of the health protection unit for the NWT.

"So far in the Deh Cho, we haven't had any outbreak activity but we are seeing that outbreak activity in three regions now in the NWT," White said.

Since August, there have been 122 reported cases of MRSA in the NWT this year with the bulk of them in the Tlicho, Beaufort Delta and Sahtu regions.

Still, White said despite the low number of MRSA cases in the Deh Cho, residents should be taking precautions to protect themselves from the bacteria, which causes skin infections that can lead to other more serious infections such as pneumonia and flesh-eating disease.

The best methods for stopping the bacteria from spreading are hand-washing and cleaning well-used surfaces, said White.

Previously, MRSA was mostly contracted by hospital patients while their immune systems were down, but now it is spreading within communities, she said.

Residents who live in crowded conditions or unsanitary homes, have compromised or broken skin or who share common personal items, such as towels or sports equipment, are at a higher risk for getting the infection.

"We are just reminding people to make sure if they have abscess or a pustules or any kind of infection and it doesn't clear up using the normal treatments like you would – hot water, compresses, those types of things – don't leave it too long. Go get it checked at a health centre and get them to swab and test and make sure you haven't got some type of superbug infection," she said.

Signs of an MRSA infection include swelling, pain or redness around a boil or open sore, discharges of pus, fever and difficulty breathing.

If someone has MRSA, White said, they should be respectful of others and take steps to stop the bacteria from spreading.

"If you had a boil and you picked it, let's just say. You put your hands on it, you were touching it, feeling it, there's drainage and then you touch your keyboard or you touch your phone or you touch your desk, the next person who sits down and touches that can pick up that bacteria that you just left all over the place," she said. "Don't pick at it, don't put your hands on your face ... and wash your hands frequently."

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