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Public Health Solutions
District Health Department
995 East Hwy 33, Ste 1
Crete, NE 68333-2562
888.310.0565
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MRSA - Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccocus aureus
What is it?
Staphyloccocus aureus is a bacteria that is commonly found in the nose and on the skin, though it can be transferred to other parts of the body. A type of this germ has become strong enough to resist methicillin, an antibiotic typically used to fight bacterial infections. MRSA attacks soft tissue, and can spread to the blood, joints and vital organs.
How is it spread?
Any activity that causes a break in the skin, injury, or poor general health can cause a MRSA infection to take hold. It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact with those already carrying MRSA infections, or with items they have had close contact with such as towels, sheets, clothes, sports equipment, etc.
What are the symptoms?
MRSA commonly causes skin infections that resemble spider bites, infected burns, impetigo, boils or abscesses.
What can I do to prevent MRSA infection?
Practice Good Hygiene.
1. Keep your hands clean by
washing with soap and water.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean
and covered with a dressing.
3. Avoid touching the wounds of
others.
4. Do not share your towels or
other personal items.
5. Use alcohol-based hand gel
when soap and water are not
available.
6. Shower with soap after each
practice or athletic contest.
7. Use a barrier between your
skin and shared workout
equipment . Wipe the surfaces
of equipment before and
after use. |
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For athletes, coaches and athletic directors.
- Encourage good hygiene.
Make showering and washing
with soap after all practices
and competitions a requirement.
- Ensure availability of adequate
soap and hot water.
- Discourage sharing of personal
items: towels, soap,
clothing, drink bottles, and equipment.
- Establish a daily schedule for
cleaning the locker room and
all shared equipment, i.e.
showers, benches, training tables, helmets/headgear, weigh
lifting equipment (bars, grips, lifting belts, etc.), balls, mats, rackets, floors, walls, wall padding, door pulls/knobs, etc. Mats should be sanitized before and after each practice and match.
- Use a 1:100 water to bleach
solutions or other EPA-approved cleaner
proven to be effective against
MRSA.
- Provide a scoop for ice buckets - do not use hands.
- Athletes should only wear uniforms and/or workout clothing a single time before washing.
- Receive training in first aid for
wounds and recognition of
wound that are potentially
infected.
- Assess athlete's skin regularly for
wounds.
- Require students/athletes to report all potential skin infections to coaches, trainers, and/or the school nurse.
- Cover all wounds. Athletes should not touch them with bare hands.
- If a would
cannot be covered adequately,
exclude from practice and
competitions, players with potentially
infected lesions, until
the lesions are healed or can
be adequately covered. **Prohibit wrestling activities even for those with covered lesions/wounds. Consider prohibiting all contact sports for these individuals.
- Use disposable gloves when administering first aid for cuts, scrapes, etc. Wash hands or use sanitizer after disposing of gloves.
- Have student see a physician/medical provider for
wounds that don't heal or look
potentially infected, i.e.
wounds that have increased
redness, increased warmth,
pus, and etc. Physicians should be encouraged to culture wounds to determine whether MRSA is the cause.
- If soap is furnished to students, it should not be bar soap.
- Towels should be laudered in soap and water that is heated to at least 71 degrees Celcius, (160 degrees F), and dried in a hot dryer.
- Use separate mops and buckets for cleaning locker rooms and restrooms. Clean mop heads and buckets regularly (change out mop heads after each use if disposables are used).
- Keep small mat holes/tears covered with tape, and replace mats in disrepair.
- Install wall dispensers containing at least 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer at entrances/exits inside weight room. **Visibly dirty hands should always be washed with soap and water.
- Inform parents and custodians of the recommendations for preventing the spread of MRSA infections, especially if an active infection is suspected.
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