| Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus
| |
| | does not respond to antibiotic therapy,
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| aureus (MRSA) is quickly developing into
| |
| | or that is draining pus or other fluid
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| a widespread threat to athletes in all
| |
| | should have MRSA ruled out as a
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| sports as well as the general population.
| |
| | possibility. Diagnosis of MRSA requires a
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| MRSA is a very serious infection that was
| |
| | culture of the infected area. The culture
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| once confined mostly to hospitals. The
| |
| | is then sent to a lab that will determine
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| infection has recently crossed over to
| |
| | if the infection is an antibiotic
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| the general population, and is now
| |
| | resistant strain such as MRSA. Many
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| infecting athletes of all sports and
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| | physicians also advocate a sterile
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| levels.Bacterial infections in athletes
| |
| | incision into the wound to allow proper
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| are very common and can greatly hamper
| |
| | drainage of pus. The wound should then be
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| their ability to compete and perform at
| |
| | covered and treated with special
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| their best, but these infections are
| |
| | antibiotic ointments and observed during
|
| usually easily treated with antibiotics
| |
| | the healing process for worsening or
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| such as penicillin, amoxicillin,
| |
| | spread to surrounding tissues. Wound
|
| methicillin, and oxacillin. MRSA is a
| |
| | dressings should be kept clean and dry
|
| staphylococcal bacterial infection
| |
| | and changed twice a day. Hospitalization
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| (commonly known as a staph infection)
| |
| | may be required in some cases. Return to
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| that has become resistant to many of
| |
| | play should not be considered until the
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| these antibiotics that doctors commonly
| |
| | wound is healed of all infection and the
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| prescribe to treat bacterial infections.
| |
| | athlete is no longer at risk of spreading
|
| This creates a very serious problem for
| |
| | the bacteria to teammates and
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| both the athlete and the doctors that
| |
| | opponents.To prevent the spread of MRSA
|
| provide their medical care. There are a
| |
| | and staphylococcal infections among
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| few high-powered new antibiotics that
| |
| | athletes follow these guidelines:DO
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| currently exist to treat this infection,
| |
| | NOT:Share shower towels Share razors and
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| but if the bacterial strain mutates
| |
| | equipment Share deodorant Share balms or
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| further and builds up resistance to these
| |
| | ointments among teammates or friends
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| drugs too, doctor's treatment options
| |
| | Share blankets or pillows at tournaments
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| will be further limited.The spread and
| |
| | or on the bus Lay on the floor of the
|
| occurrences of MRSA in athletics is
| |
| | locker room Use community towels on the
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| increasing. Prior to 2002, resistant
| |
| | sidelines to be shared among athletes,
|
| staph infections were virtually unheard
| |
| | including ice buckets and wet towels to
|
| of in such a healthy population. Many of
| |
| | cool athletes (use single use disposable
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| the first athletic cases were reported in
| |
| | towels instead or do not directly touch
|
| football. Now football players from the
| |
| | athletes) Use whirlpools and other common
|
| high school level to the pros have had
| |
| | use medical equipment when infected Share
|
| outbreaks. Many collegiate teams,
| |
| | beds with friends or teammates without
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| including national championship caliber
| |
| | changing the linens first DO:
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| programs, have also had major problems
| |
| | Clean equipment, weights, mats, and
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| controlling the spread of this infection.
| |
| | work-out machines after each individual
|
| MRSA is usually spread by direct
| |
| | use, not each session Maintain a clean
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| person-to-person contact. MRSA is
| |
| | locker room, including showers, floors,
|
| commonly found on the skin or in the nose
| |
| | and carpets Occasionally wipe down and
|
| of healthy people. Having the bacteria
| |
| | disinfect meeting rooms, desks, and
|
| present in or on your body does not mean
| |
| | common areas Encourage showering and hair
|
| that you will develop infection, and many
| |
| | washing with hot water and antibacterial
|
| people live healthy lives without ever
| |
| | soaps and shampoos after every practice,
|
| developing an infection. Sports such as
| |
| | competition, or workout Frequently wash
|
| football, wrestling, and soccer are among
| |
| | uniforms, practice gear (including pads
|
| the highest risk to spread the infection
| |
| | and sports braces), and towels in hot
|
| due to the constant bumping, hitting, and
| |
| | water. Add bleach if you can without
|
| contact with teammates and opponents.
| |
| | ruining your clothes Avoid close direct
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| These sports generally also have exposed
| |
| | contact with infected individuals Finish
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| areas of skin and open wounds when
| |
| | all antibiotics prescribed to you by your
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| practicing or competing that may come in
| |
| | doctor, unless your doctor tells you
|
| close contact with other athletes. MRSA
| |
| | otherwise Use gloves when handling,
|
| requires contact to be spread from person
| |
| | washing, or moving bloody or sweaty
|
| to person and is not spread through the
| |
| | equipment, jerseys, or bandages. Throw
|
| air. However, it can be spread by direct
| |
| | away used bandages and bloody gauze in
|
| contact with contaminated towels or
| |
| | red biohazard bags Train athletes,
|
| equipment that athletes may share or use
| |
| | coaches, and medical staff to recognize
|
| during workouts. Once an infection
| |
| | potentially infected wounds and
|
| develops in an athlete it can quickly
| |
| | administer basic first aid treatment for
|
| spread throughout a team and to
| |
| | wounds Keep all wounds (even small
|
| opponents.Many MRSA infections start as a
| |
| | abrasions, turf burns, or scratches)
|
| small skin lesion or pimple, but the
| |
| | bandaged and covered with an antibiotic
|
| bacteria can also travel through the
| |
| | ointment when participating. If a wound
|
| blood stream and settle into internal
| |
| | can not be adequately covered consider
|
| tissues, such as bone. Skin infections
| |
| | excluding the athlete from participation
|
| often occur in the area of a previous
| |
| | Report any skin abnormalities, lesions,
|
| wound that allowed the bacteria to enter
| |
| | or wounds to your doctor or certified
|
| the body. Wounds such as turf burn
| |
| | athletic trainer Place and use
|
| abrasions, fingernail scratches, or even
| |
| | alcohol-based hand sanitizers in athletic
|
| a small open blister or pimple could
| |
| | facilities and in medical bags Have
|
| allow the infection to enter and
| |
| | medical staff and coaches wash with soap
|
| manifest. When infected, the first
| |
| | and water, or use an alcohol-based hand
|
| symptoms may yield a small painful red
| |
| | sanitizer, after contact with each
|
| swollen spider bite or boil looking skin
| |
| | patient/ athlete that is bleeding or very
|
| lesion. If left untreated the infection
| |
| | sweatyMRSA is a serious problem that has
|
| will spread to surrounding tissues
| |
| | crossed over from the hospital setting to
|
| creating a pus filled abscess. Without
| |
| | the general population and athletics.
|
| treatment the infection then may advance
| |
| | Though it is a threat to athletes and the
|
| and spread to the bloodstream making it
| |
| | people they come in contact with, it can
|
| harder to treat and control. Advanced
| |
| | often be prevented. By being aware of the
|
| infection symptoms may include shortness
| |
| | signs and symptoms of MRSA, using good
|
| of breath, chills, and fever and
| |
| | hygiene, and carefully following the
|
| ultimately could result in death if not
| |
| | prevention steps listed above many MRSA
|
| properly treated.Treatment for MRSA
| |
| | cases can be avoided, allowing athletes
|
| requires proper diagnosis. Any infection
| |
| | to continue their training routines and
|
| that does not heal in a timely matter,
| |
| | to perform at their top level.Bryan S.
|
