MRSA: Protecting student athletes

Articles

If you suspect an MRSA infection, what should you do? Content What is MRSA? What does an MRSA infection look like? How does MRSA spread? What can schools do to prevent MRSA infections? What can athletes do to prevent MRSA infections? If you have a skin infection, what should you do? How are MRSA skin infections treated? When can the athlete return to play?

To help prevent the spread of MRSA infections:

Wash your hands. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer. Clean your hands before and after playing sports, using shared weight training equipment, and changing a bandage on a wound.
Take showers. Shower immediately after exercise. Don't share items that touch your bare skin — such as bar soap, razors or towels.
Use barriers. Cover cuts and scrapes with a bandage to keep germs out. Lay a towel down to act as a barrier between your skin and benches in weight rooms, locker rooms, saunas and steam rooms.
Wash your clothing and equipment. Follow the laundering directions for your workout clothing, uniform and equipment. Dry clothes completely in a dryer. Wash your workout clothing and uniform after each use.