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