Infection Control Prevention Recommendations

NCAA Alert on Skin Infections. . .
Indianapolis, IN - 

An antibiotic-resistant skin infection known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been reported in clusters since 2000 within the competitive sports population.  Wrestling has been a sport that has historically had problems with skin infections but all athletes are susceptible to these conditions and more athletes are experiencing time loss injuries due to skin infections.  MRSA has historically been associated with outbreaks in health-care institutions but the bacteria is being spread among participants in competitive sports that often have risk factors for infection including cuts, scraps, open wounds, skin trauma from turf burns and shaving.  The bacteria is believed to be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, sharing towels or equipment.  All persons associated with competitive sports teams can help prevent sports-related skin infections by practicing good hygiene, promoting clean facilities, avoiding sharing towels or equipment, and receiving appropriate first aid for all open wounds and active skin infections.

The NCAA Committee in Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) has reviewed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Medical Alert regarding methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a cause of communicable skin infections.   The CSMAS recommends that NCAA departments of athletics, and in particular the sports medicine staff, review the information that identifies risk factors, and note that maintaining good hygiene and avoiding contact with drainage from skin lesions are the best methods for preventing the spread of MRSA.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections Among Competitive Sports Participants: Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles County, 2000-2003. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). August 2003. Available at: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5233a4.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community-Associated MRSA Website

CA-MRSA Information for the Public

CA-MRSA Information for Clinicians

What Is CDC Doing about MRSA?

Related published articles:

• Community Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (CA-MRSA) in an Athletic Environment, Arlinghaus, E., Hann, M. J., and Nguyen, A. 2004.  Case Poster Presentation

• CDC Warns Against Resistant Staph Strain
  NATA News, August 2003. View

• Community - Associated MRSA: Frequently Asked Questions
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). August 2003.
  Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/Aresist/mrsa_comm_faq.htm
  
  
• MRSA outbreak in a college football team. 
  Begier, EM, et al. CID 2004:39 (15 November 2004); pp. 1446-1453. 
  View Abstract
  
  
• Sports teams warned about unique skin infection     
  By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY.
  Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2003-10-14-sports-infections_x.htm
  
  
• High school team hit with MRSA. USA TODAY.
  Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20031015/5590090s.htm

Prevention Strategies:

• Poster - Using Your head for Hygiene  PDF Printable version.

• CDC suggests prevention measures for community-acquired MRSA infection. PDF.
  
  
• Greater Houston Athletic Trainers' Society MRSA In Athletes. Presentations.
  
  
• University of Georgia MRSA Educational Presentation. Slide Set.
  
  
• Infection Control in Collegiate Wrestling. Mary Ann Custer, 2004.  Educational Initiative, Slide Set with seperate Notes set for each slide.

• Preventing Infectious Disease in Sports 
  Warren B. Howe, MD THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE - VOL 31 - NO. 2 - FEBRUARY 2003  
  Availalble at: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2003/0203/howe.htm 
  
  
• Skin Infections. NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations (Appendix D) 
  
  
• Skin Infections Guideline in Wrestling. NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook 2005-06 
  
  
• Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings.
  National Center for Infectious Diseases. Available at: http://www.apic.org/resc/rr5116a1.cfm

The contact for this page is dklossner@ncaa.org