Questions
and Answers about MRSA for School Athletics Professionals
In this section, you’ll find information on MRSA for school athletics professionals, athletic directors,
trainers, coaches, and others in high schools, colleges and universities in Massachusetts .
What is MRSA?
MRSA is a kind of Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”) bacterium that is resistant to
beta-lactam antibiotics, including methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. It is often resistant to
many other antibiotics as well.
For general information about MRSA and Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”), please see About
MRSA.
Why is MRSA a problem for school athletics departments?
There are several reasons why school athletics professionals are concerned about MRSA.
- First, in Massachusetts and elsewhere throughout the country, MRSA infections are becoming more common in community
settings, including schools and among athletes.
- Second, staph (including MRSA) are spread by direct contact (see below for more on how MRSA is spread). On
athletic teams, there are many opportunities for direct contact among athletes.
- Third, a MRSA outbreak can cause much anxiety for parents, athletes and staff, and MRSA infections can vary
from mild to severe.
- Finally, MRSA is part of a larger problem of antibiotic resistance. Get more
information on antibiotic resistance.
How is MRSA spread?
Staph, including MRSA, are spread by direct skin-to-skin contact, such as shaking hands, wrestling, or other direct
contact with the skin of another person. Staph are also spread by contact with items that have been touched by people
with staph, like towels shared after bathing and drying off, or shared athletic equipment in the gym or on the field.
Most people who have staph or MRSA on their skin do not have infections or illness caused by staph. These people are “colonized” with
staph. Staph infections start when staph get into a cut, scrape or other break in the skin. People who have skin infections
should be very careful to avoid spreading their infection to others. Steps to prevent spread are listed below.
What are the symptoms of an infection caused by MRSA?
MRSA is a type of staph, so the symptoms of a MRSA infection and the symptoms of an infection due to other staph
are the same. Pimples, rashes, pus-filled boils, especially when warm, painful, red or swollen, can indicate a staph
skin infection. Impetigo is one example of a skin infection that can be caused by staph, including MRSA.
 
Staph, including MRSA, can also cause more serious infection, such as severe skin infection,
surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia. The symptoms could include high fever, swelling,
heat and pain around a wound, headache, fatigue, and others.
How are MRSA infections treated?
Most MRSA infections are treated by good wound and skin care: keeping the area clean and dry, washing hands after
caring for the area, carefully disposing of any bandages, and allowing the body to heal.
Sometimes treatment requires the use of antibiotics. If antibiotics are needed, it is important to use the medication
as directed unless a healthcare provider says to stop. If the infection has not improved within a few days after
seeing the healthcare provider, the athlete should contact the provider again.
Are my athletes at risk for MRSA infection?
Many people, including athletes, carry staph (including MRSA) in their nose or on their skin and do not know they
are carrying it. They usually do not get skin infections. They do not have any signs or symptoms of illness.
However, there are some conditions that can lead to MRSA/staph infections among athletes. Factors that have been
associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such
as cuts or abrasions (as might occur with body shaving), contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions,
and poor hygiene. In addition, MRSA infections sometimes occur among previously healthy persons with no identifiable
risk factors.
Since 2002, school athletic teams in several states, including Massachusetts , have reported MRSA infections among
wrestling, volleyball, and most frequently, football teams. Some colleges have reported MRSA infection cases in
residential dormitories.
Review a CDC listing of scientific publications
reporting past outbreaks of MRSA in the community.
What should I do if an athlete in my school is reported to have MRSA?
Precautions:
- Treat any draining wound as a potential MRSA infection.
- Make sure the wound is fully covered at all times, especially if the athlete participates in direct contact
with other athletes.
- Encourage the athlete to be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
- Inform the healthcare provider of the possibility of MRSA.
Caring for MRSA at school:
- Instruct the athlete to practice frequent handwashing and to carry
and use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Permit the athlete to participate in team activities, but make sure the wound is fully covered at all times.
- Do not allow an athlete with a MRSA infection to use any whirlpools or hot tubs.
- Encourage the athlete to follow good hygienic practices—washing hands, showering, and regularly laundering
clothes.
- Clean sports equipment or any part of the athletic area that may come in contact with the wound with commercial
disinfectant or fresh solution of diluted bleach before any other athlete comes in contact with the equipment
or area.
- Use clean, non-sterile gloves when caring for the wound or touching any broken skin.
- Remove gloves promptly after use and discard before touching uncontaminated items and surfaces and before treating
another athlete.
- Wash hands immediately after contact with the wound or broken skin even if gloves were worn.
- Wash hands between tasks and procedures on the same athlete to prevent cross-contamination of different body
sites.
- Cover treatment tables. Discard or launder coverings after each use.
- Place disposable items that have come in contact with the infected site in a separate trash bag, and secure
the bag before placing in the common garbage.
- Do not give other team members prophylactic antibiotics.
Should schools be closed if students or staff have MRSA?
It is not necessary to close schools in response to cases of MRSA in students or staff. Almost all transmission
of the bacteria from person to person is through skin to skin contact, such as occurs among sports teams, not among
students in classrooms. Sanitizing shared exercise and other equipment with skin contact is a good practice, but
other environmental surfaces in community settings do not need to be disinfected.
If MRSA infection has been found among my athletes, should I test and treat all my athletes
for MRSA?
It is not recommended that all athletes get tested and treated for MRSA if one or more athletes in your school
has a MRSA infection. Any athlete with a skin infection should be encouraged to see their healthcare provider. The
healthcare provider will determine the best course of treatment.
Do I need to alert parents and staff if an athlete has a MRSA infection?
When MRSA occurs within the school population, consult with the school nurse, school physician or health service
to determine, based on medical judgment, whether some or all parents and staff should be notified. When
necessary, consult with the MDPH (617-983-6800). Prior to parent notification, discuss the issue with the school
administrator. If impetigo has been diagnosed, a sample letter to parents about impetigo is available in the MDPH
School Health Manual or by calling 617/983-6855.
How can I prevent MRSA infection among athletes?
It is important for school athletics professionals to coordinate infection control efforts with school health
professionals, residential services, and other colleagues to effectively prevent and control infections such as
MRSA.
Practicing good hygiene is the best way to prevent getting and spreading MRSA infections and many other infections.
Encourage athletes to:
- Keep hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and warm water
or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel.
- Shower with soap and water as soon as possible after direct contact sports, and use a clean, dry towel.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
- Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
- Not share towels (even on the sidelines at a game), soap, razors, or other personal care items.
- Not share ointments or antibiotics.
- Wash towels, uniforms, scrimmage shirts, and any other laundry in hot water and ordinary detergent, and dry
on the hottest cycle after each use. Inform parents of these precautions if laundry is sent home (laundry must
be in an impervious container or plastic bag for transporting home).
- Avoid whirlpools or common hot tubs, especially when having open wounds, scrapes, or scratches.
- Inform their coach or athletic trainer if they think they have a skin infection.
In addition, develop procedures for cleaning athletic area and equipment, and educating staff and athletes about
these procedures:
- Clean the athletic area and sports equipment routinely—at least weekly—using a commercial disinfectant
or a fresh (mixed daily) solution of 1 part bleach to 100 parts water (1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart of water).
- Clean mats and other high-use equipment before each practice and several times a day throughout a tournament,
using a commercial disinfectant or a fresh (mixed daily) solution of 1 part bleach to 100 parts water (1 tablespoon
bleach to 1 quart of water).
What information on MRSA is available for athletes and parents/guardians?
External Links
For more information about MRSA, visit:
Articles
- CDC.“Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections Among Competitive
Sports Participants, Colorado , Indiana , Pennsylvania , and Los Angeles County , 2000—2003.” MMWR. August
22, 2003 ; 52(33); 793-795.
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5233a4.htm
- MetroWest Clean Gear Corporation (Links to various articles and news stories)
http://www.metrowestcleangear.com/MRSAnews.htm
- National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). “Sports Medicine: NFHS Issues Alert Concerning
an Infectious Skin Disorder in Contact Sports.” www.nfhs.org/scriptcontent/va_Custom/vimdisplays/contentpagedisplay.cfm?content_id=212
- Nguyen DM, Mascola L, Bancroft E. “Recurring Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
in a Football Team.” Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2005 Apr.
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no04/04-1094.htm
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