DC Fire & EMS Training Academy Has Recruits With Staph Infection

Watch Thursday’s 6:00 p.m. report

It isn’t just schools and hospital dealing with staph outbreaks.

Three recruits of DC Fire and EMS are being treated for the infection. Department Medical Director Doctor Michael Williams says he has confirmed one case of staph and two likely cases. What Dr. Williams says he doesn’t know is if this is MRSA, the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The first case was reported last week. A recruit discovered skin irritation on his elbow. Williams says since then the training academy in Southwest has been decontaminated.

Now, with two more recruits reporting irritations on their elbows, the department is considering a second round of cleaning.

Because of the close quarters, and the shared equipment, it is not unusual for training academies like DC’s to be hit with a spreading infection. Last year, the Prince George’s County Police Department had a difficult time ridding its facility of staph. Nine recruits and three instructors were infected and the class was given a two week break before it was brought under control.

So far, DC is not talking about shutting down the recruit class. The first recruit is already back in class, on antibiotics and with his elbow covered.