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