MRSA Center

Health officials have been warning the public over the last several years about an antibiotic-resistant skin infection or "super bug" known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ("MRSA").

1. Maintain good personal hygiene and avoid direct contact with skin lesions of other players.

2. Sports team administrators should be encouraged to provide facilities and equipment necessary to promote good hygiene, such as clean facilities and adequate supplies of soap and towels, and the use of an antibacterial hand sanitizer.

3. Players should avoid sharing towels, razors or other personal items that come into contact with bare skin, use a barrier (e.g. clothing or towel) between their skin and shared equipment such as weight-training benches, and inform coaches about active skin infections

4. Launder personal items such as towels and supporters after each use. The water should be at least 160 degrees; washing time should be 25 minutes or more. One product that MomsTeam loves is FabricAide

5. Clean and cover all wounds. If an athlete's skin is injured, it should be washed immediately with soap and warm water, dried and covered with a clean bandage. If a wound cannot be covered adequately, the program should consider excluding players with potentially infectious skin lesions from practice or competition until the lesions are healed or can be covered adequately;

6. Establish routine cleaning schedules for shared equipment. Shared athletic equipment, such as pads or helmets, should be cleaned or laundered at least once a week but ideally after each use;

7. Train athletes and coaches in first aid for wounds and recognition of wounds that are potentially infected;

8. Encourage athletes to report skin lesions to coaches; and

9. Encourage coaches to assess athletes regularly for skin lesions.