Zephyrhills child rescued from Erie Canal tests positive for MRSA, says mom

PASCO CO., Fla - A Zephyrhills special needs child has tested positive for MRSA after the stroller carrying her and her 8-year-old brother plunged into the Erie Canal August 15.

Selah Clanton, 8, was being pushed in a double stroller alongside her brother, Sam, when her father lost control of the stroller as he stopped to check the time on his cell phone.

Jon Clanton, 48, jumped into the water after his adopted children and was later assisted by medical students and police who happened to be in the area.  Both children were rescued but needed CPR.  Sam is now recovered but Selah continues to fight for her life.

On Saturday, Selah's mother Yvonne took to her blog asking for prayers after revealing her daughter has now tested positive for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection or MRSA.

A MRSA infection is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic staff reports that most MRSA infections occur in people who have been in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. When it occurs in these settings, it's known as health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). HA-MRSA infections typically are associated with invasive procedures or devices, such as surgeries, intravenous tubing or artificial joints.

Selah has been in a Rochester, New York, hospital for close to two weeks.

MRSA infections can resist the effects of many common antibiotics, so they are more difficult to treat. This can allow the infections to spread and sometimes become life-threatening.

"Selah has tested positive for MRSA and her white count is up," wrote Yvonne Clanton.  "Please pray for her! This is serious!"

The Clanton family often visits Rochester where Sam is treated by a corneal surgeon.

During this recent trip, Selah, who was adopted from the Ukraine by the Clanton's three months ago, was scheduled to undergo a corneal implant, Yvonne Clanton blogged.

The Clanton family also has two other adopted children who have special needs along with a 16-year-old biological son.

Jon Clanton is a pastor at Grace Church of Zephyrhills.