Schools closed after teen's Staph Superbug-related death*

    * Story Highlights
    * High school senior who had antibiotic-resistant staph infection
has died
    * 21 Bedford, Virginia, schools closed for cleaning to keep illness
from spreading
    * MRSA a strain of staph bacteria; penicillin, related antibiotics
ineffective
    * Officials: Staph, including MRSA, spreading through U.S. schools
in recent weeks

BEDFORD, Virginia (AP) -- A high school student who was hospitalized for
more than a week with an antibiotic-resistant staph infection has died,
and officials shut down 21 schools for cleaning to keep the illness from
spreading.

Ashton Bonds, 17, a senior at Staunton River High School, died Monday
after he was found to have Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,
or MRSA, his mother said.

"I want people to know how sick it made my son," Veronica Bonds said.

Staph infections, including the serious MRSA strain, have spread through
schools nationwide in recent weeks, according to health and education
officials.

MRSA is a strain of staph bacteria that does not respond to penicillin
and related antibiotics but can be treated with other drugs. The
infection can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or sharing an item used
by an infected person, particularly one with an open wound.

Bedford Superintendent James Blevins said at a news conference Tuesday
that the schools will be closed for cleaning Wednesday.

Many of the infections are being spread in gyms and locker rooms, where
athletes -- perhaps suffering from cuts or abrasions _ share sports
equipment. Ashton Bonds played football last year but was not playing
this season.

Ashton went to Bedford Memorial Hospital on October 4 after complaining
of pain in his side, his mother said. He was sent home after doctors
ruled out appendicitis, but was readmitted three days later and
transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Last week doctors diagnosed an MRSA infection that had spread to
Ashton's kidneys, liver, lungs and the muscles around his heart.