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Memorandum
Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
What
is MRSA?
MRSA is a kind of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that is resistant to a
family of antibiotics related to penicillin that includes methicillin and
oxacillin, and possibly other antibiotics. While this skin and soft
tissue infection (SSTI) has been most diagnosed in hospitals, cases are
now branching to close contact athletics. In the general public,
nasal swab tests reveal about 30% of the population are colonized with
Staph bacteria and less than 1% are colonized with MRSA. This new
community-acquired MRSA can be a result of many factors leading mostly to
poor hygiene in athletics.
Who is most at risk
in athletics?
Those athletes in constant close
skin contact with another athlete’s skin. For example wrestlers,
rugby, and football may be among the highest at risk. Among football
players lineman tend to have to most constant contact and therefore have
been found to have increased cases of MRSA in research studies.
Weight rooms and locker rooms need to be carefully cleaned as well as all
equipment used.
How do I know if it
is MRSA?
Most cases start with a sore
that can be mistaken as a spider-bite, boil, or large pimple, as seen in
the pictures below. The wound can be sore and red and eventually
become an open lesion. MRSA can ONLY be diagnosed through culture
testing. Beware of taking antibiotics without a culture being
performed by a medical doctor. This may cause the strain to later
become more resistant. If not taken care of the infection may become
life threatening.
How is MRSA treated?
The medication used most is trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ)
twice daily with Rifampin for two weeks. Athletes beware; the class
of medications known as quinolones has been reported to cause weakened
tendons. REPORT ANY OPEN SORES OR UNUSUAL SKIN PIMPLES TO YOUR
ATHLETIC TRAINER IMMEDIATELY.
How long will an
athlete with MRSA be held from participation?
An athlete diagnosed with MRSA will not be allowed to participate in
athletics until the lesion is dry and can be completed covered by the
athletic trainer with bandages.
So what do we do to
prevent MRSA from affecting our athletic program?
The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) has released a position
statement for sporting programs at all levels. Nease High school will be
following these guidelines during the upcoming year. We are asking
for help from all athletes and their parents and the coaching staff.
MRSA
PROTOCOL
FOR
NEASE
HIGH SCHOOL
BASED OFF NATA POSITION STATEMENT
·
Keep hands clean by washing with
warm water and antibacterial soap for at least 15 seconds.
·
When soap and water is not present
an alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be used.
·
Always wash hands before eating and
rubbing eyes.
·
Encourage immediate showering
post-sporting event. The best shower includes an antibacterial soap, Dial,
and warm water.
·
Avoid common tubs for ice baths and
whirlpools when infected.
·
Always avoid sharing towels, razors,
soap bars.
·
Wash athletic clothing after EVERY
practice or event.
·
Laundry water should be at least 140
degrees F to kill bacteria.
·
Wash padding and helmets with Clorox
wipes or Lysol AT LEAST once a week. This includes pads worn inside
football pants and knee pads, shoulder pads, shin guards, gym bags and
between the pads within a helmet.
·
If you have an open wound and come
in contact with other athletes you MUST cover that wound. The athletic
trainer will do it for you if necessary.
·
Coaches, athletic trainers, and
managers should not use the same towel for multiple players. This means
the purchasing of extra towels or disposable paper towels for games.
·
Lockers MUST be sanitized between
seasons, performed by custodial staff.
·
Do not place hot pack covers in the
athletic training room directly on your skin.
·
Those at high risk or have
reoccurring infections should talk to their doctor about using 3%
hexachlorophene or 4% chlorohexidine intermittently throughout the season.
·
Treatment tables in the athletic
training room will be cleaned between each athlete.
·
Weight room benches and bars MUST be
disinfected DAILY!
·
Weight room floors and wrestling
mats MUST be disinfected WEEKLY!
·
YOU MUST REPORT ALL AN SKIN LESIONS
AND SKIN ABNORMALITIES TO THE ATHLETIC TRAINER SO ALL PRECAUTIONS CAN BE
TAKEN. IF YOU SEEK DOCTOR’S OPINION YOU MUST STILL INFORM THE
ATHLETIC TRAINER. PLEASE KNOW IF A CULTURE WAS TAKEN, WHAT THE RESULTS
WERE, AND WHAT MEDICATION YOU ARE ON.
·
If instructions for return to play
are not given by the diagnosing doctor the athletic trainer will decide
when the athlete is able to participate.
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