MRSA case confirmed at DC training academy. 4th staph infection discovered since October.

For the fourth time in two months, the DC Fire & EMS Department’s Training Academy has a recruit with a staph infection. This time the infection has been confirmed as MRSA, the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

According to a department press release, the female recruit reported an unusual skin lesion on Monday. On Thursday it was confirmed as MRSA. The recruit is being treated and officials say her prognosis is good.

Three recruits from the same class reported skin lesions in October. MRSA was not confirmed in any of those cases.

Chief Dennis Rubin said in a statement, “I want to assure the public that there is no cause for alarm. Our Training Academy is disinfected regularly, at least once per week, and we are vigilant about advising our employees on the warning signs of Staph and how to minimize exposure. We are working very closely with the DC Department of Health on this matter.”