Staph Infections Continue to Plague Athletes

Staph and Community Acquired MRSA infections continue making headlines in pro sports.

Most recently, Tom Brady's recovery from knee surgery is apparently being hampered by an unidentified infection in that same knee.

According to the New York Times, "football players are prone to staph infections because of their sport’s skin-on-skin contact, the frequency of cuts and the warm, moist conditions in locker rooms, which encourage the growth of bacteria. Because they are regulars in surgery wards, athletes are susceptible to infections there, too."

How Serious is a Staph Infection?
It's true that because of the close contact during some sports, athletes may be more likely to get Community Acquired MRSA. However, in most cases, this form of MRSA is not the same at the Hospital Acquired MRSA that is much more difficult to treat.

Can I get a Staph or MRSA Infection at a Health Club? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website:

"MRSA is transmitted most frequently by direct skin-to-skin contact. You can protect yourself from infections by practicing good hygiene (e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub and showering after working out); covering any open skin area such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage; avoiding sharing personal items such as towels or razors; using a barrier (e.g., clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment; and wiping surfaces of equipment before and after use."

Learn more:

• Community Acquired MRSA in Athletes
• Community-Associated MRSA Information for the Public from the CDC
• Community-Associated MRSA Information for Clinicians from the CDC
• Community-Associated MRSA information from the CDC
• Types for Avoiding Germs at the Gym
• Health Club Manners

_{Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Overview of Community-Associated MRSA, 2007.}