Much discussion and publicity has occured recently regarding MRSA infections. A MRSA infection is a staph infection, and its proper name is “methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection”.
Historically, MRSA infections have been isolated to the health care setting. More recently though, these types of infections have been found in group settings such as athletic teams. The spread of staph infections into this setting is called CA-MRSA or community-acquired MRSA.
Please review this form so you may become familiar to how an MRSA infections appears.
It is important to note that MRSA is not the only communicable and infectious disease that can be spread in this setting. The locker room and the sharing of common areas and personal objects, such as towels, create a higher-risk of contracting infectious diseases such as ringworm, impetego, and herpes gladatorium (a form of herpes virus which causes lesions on the head, neck & shoulders).
While concern for students and athletes is paramount, fear is not necessary nor helpful. By educating athletes, coaches, students, faculty & staff, communicable infections such as MRSA are easily preventable.
Keep in mind that practicing good hygiene is the best weapon against spreading staph or any other potential communicable infection or disease.
Click here to learn more about how practicing helps to protect your against MRSA.
In order to treat MRSA you should:
Click here to learn some quick facts about MRSA and to see examples of the infection.
This is a special report prepared by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in conjunction with the College/University Athletic Trainers’ Committee. The two entities have been working to gauge the profession’s knowlege and practices concerning MRSA – reported as one of the most challenging issues related to the care of athletes.