Parents of a child at Kurth Primary are sharing their son's saga fighting a staph infection they believe he contracted at school, in hopes of helping other parents in the district avoid a similar experience.

Parents Eric Conditt, of Lufkin, and Rachel Stevens, of Nacogdoches, saw their son admitted to a Lufkin hospital after getting the infection, where he ended up having surgery to remove the infected area.

He missed a week of school and was at home recovering the middle of last week, receiving visits from a home health nurse to treat his wound, according to his grandfather, Andrew Stevens.

"They feel the school should send out a letter to all families in the district informing them of the problem. So do we," Andrew Stevens said on behalf of his grandson's parents and he and his wife.

According to Stevens, the school told his family another child in his grandson's room had a staph infection first.

Principal Karen Vinson was not able to comment due to district policy. Assistant Superintendent Johnny Giles did not return a message left with his office Friday seeking permission to allow Vinson to comment.

Jan Durham, head nurse for Lufkin ISD, speaking generally on staph, said two things were key in attempting to avoid infection — good handwashing and keeping things clean.

"Kids handle a lot of different things. Nurses do instruction in schools (in proper handwashing)," she said.

Infections can start at the site of something simple, like a bite, scratch or similar small opening in the skin. Durham advised any parents suspecting a wound that doesn't look right not to wait, but to seek medical care at a clinic or local physician as soon as possible.

"It can turn into something really gruesome really quickly," she said.

Any wound that is not healing quickly, looks irritated or has liquid coming from it should be looked at by a healthcare professional, she said.

Durham said any rooms in district buildings where staph is suspected are thoroughly cleaned.

Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that is it not as much environment as it is skin-to-skin contact that transmits the more serious MRSA infection.

The CDC recommends the following tips for preventing staph or MRSA skin infections:

* Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

* Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.

* Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.

* Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.