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NYSDOH Recommendations to Prevent CA-MRSA • Shower thoroughly with soap after all practices and competitions. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers. If your hands are visibly soiled, wash thoroughly with soap and water. • Do not share towels or other personal items such as clothing, razors or equipment. Since these items can become contaminated and may spread disease, regularly wash items after each use. • Check your skin regularly for any reddened areas, pimples or boils causing pus, swelling or pain. • Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages. • All cuts and...

Skin infections account for up to 10% of time-loss injuries in some sports and can cause serious illness. Skin infections can be spread from one athlete to another. You can help protect athletes from becoming sick or losing playing time due to skin infections. Skin infections can lead to: Lost playing time Scarring, sometimes on face Wounds or rashes that keep recurring Rarely, serious life-threatening infections if not treated quickly The three most important skin infections are: Staphylococcus aureus “Staph” Caused by: bacteria Typically: one or more painful sores, with pus surrounded by redness, sometimes associated with fever Herpes Caused...

Skin infections are a leading cause of missed competition. Skin-related infections account for nearly 10 percent of high school sports-related health conditions or injuries in athletes. The number jumps to 20 percent for college-level athletes. Sports-related skin infections have a variety of causes, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Most of these infections spread through skin-to-skin contact, poor hygiene or shared equipment or towels. Caring for athletes should include recognizing and evaluating these conditions to prevent the spread of infections between competitors. How do skin infections spread? Maintain clean facilities.Skin-to-skin contact Athlete A develops a skin infection, then spreads the infection...

Case definition: Probable case: A case of skin infection in a contact sports team diagnosed by a healthcare provider Confirmed case: A probable case that is laboratory confirmed Outbreak Definition: Two or more cases of the same skin infection in a contact sports team within an 8 day period Prior to Having an Outbreak: 1) School administrators should assist in preventing skin infections in sports teams by providing:  Warm water, soap, and paper towels in locker rooms and bathrooms  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectants  Training and education for staff, coaches and athletes 2) All athletes should: ...

What is MRSA and how can it affect me? Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”) is a germ that often lives in the nose or on the skin of healthy people. MRSA, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a type of staph germ that is resistant to certain antibiotics. In the community, most MRSA infections are skin infections (pustules, boils) that may be: • Mistaken for spider bites • Red, swollen, painful, warm to the touch, and have pus or other drainage • Accompanied by a fever To learn more about MRSA, visit www.cdc.gov/mrsa Can MRSA be spread at recreational water facilities? MRSA...