Two students in the Auburn Enlarged City School District have contracted MRSA, a type of bacteria that causes staph infections that are resistant to treatment with usual antibiotics, according to Superintendent J.D. Pabis.

The two students attend Auburn High School and are both athletes, Pabis said. One student's case was confirmed on Monday, the other on Tuesday.

In response to the infection being identified in another central New York school last year, efforts started at Auburn schools to cleanse and disinfect district buildings and materials continued into this year, including daily sanitizing of nurses offices and locker rooms, athletic equipment and uniforms and objects such as doorknobs, Pabis said.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, often manifests itself as redness, swelling and tenderness at the site of infection, according to the state Department of Health.

It is also possible to carry MRSA without having any symptoms. That is making MRSA a more common occurrence in schools and in health-care facilities.

“It's something that is unfortunately becoming more commonplace,” Pabis said. “We have to continue to educate our students and the public on hand washing cleanliness, proper contact with open wounds.”

The health department recommends the consistent use of soap and water and an alcohol rub to cleanse hands of any bacteria, avoid contact with any open wounds, all scrapes be properly covered with bandages and avoid the sharing of personal items such as combs and razors.