Wrestlers -- as well as athletes in other contact sports that put participants at risk for cuts and abrasions -- are particularly susceptible to bacterial staph infections, which have the potential to develop into MRSA, a potentially life-threatening condition. According to MayoClinic.com, however, the majority of staph infections are minor. See your doctor if you have an area of skin that is reddened or painful, pus-filled blisters, a fever, or a sore that looks as if it is infected.
Staph Infection Features
Staph infections are caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, a common germ on skin that is harmless until it enters the body through a cut, where it can cause Inflammation and swelling. Most staph infections begin as a red, painful bump that resembles a pimple or small boil. MayoClinic.com says that staph infections on skin can also take the form of impetigo, a contagious rash that features oozing sores. A complication called cellulitis, which features red, swollen skin, can occur with staph infections. If untreated, cellulitis can cause sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition. With another complication, called bacteremia, staph bacteria get into the bloodstream and travel to the internal organs, where they can cause persistent fever and conditions such as endocarditis or pneumonia. MayoClinic.com says that although it is possible for a healthy person to get a life-threatening staph infection, severe infections usually strike people who are already hospitalized or have compromised immune systems.
MRSA Features
MRSA, an abbreviation for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, is an infection caused by a specific strain of staph bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotics normally used to treat the infections. According to MayoClinic.com, the initial lesion of a staph infection can develop into a deep abscess, which moves into the body and causes potentially fatal infections in the bones, joints, organs and lungs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that although most cases of MRSA occur in hospitals and nursing homes, outbreaks of community-associated MRSA can also take place where living conditions are crowded, such as military training camps and jails. MRSA can also occur in places where athletes engage in contact sports. Doctors diagnose MRSA by tissue samples or by analyzing nasal secretions for signs of the drug-resistant bacteria. MayoClinic.com says that MRSA can sometimes be treated by simply draining the abscess; other cases require powerful antibiotics such as vancomycin.
Risks to Wrestlers
According to the Times-News Magic Valley website in Idaho, wrestlers are particularly vulnerable to staph infections and MRSA because they have close contact with each other's skin and -- in some cases -- spit and blood. They are also prone to broken skin in the form of cuts and scrapes, which can become a portal for infection when exposed to bacteria-infected surfaces. The CDC reports that clusters of MRSA outbreaks were identified in high school and college athletes -- primarily wrestlers and football players -- in September 2000, adding that 70 percent of the football team at one Pennsylvania college had to be hospitalized. Skin abrasions from turf burns and sharing towels were identified as probable causes. The CDC also noted that some outbreaks occurred in sports with little skin-to-skin contact, such as fencing; shared equipment was thought the most likely cause.
Prevention of Staph Infections for Wrestlers
Good hygiene is of paramount importance in preventing staph infections. According to Connect with Kids, cuts and scrapes must be cleaned with soap and water, kept covered with dry, sterile bandages and watched closely for infection. Wrestling mats and other equipment must be disinfected. According to Magic Valley, the National Wrestling Coaches Association recommends that wrestlers shower with an antimicrobial antiseptic soap that contains chlorhexidine gluconate before a tournament; wipes that contain CSG can be used between or during matches. MayoClinic.com cautions that wrestlers shouldn't share towels, razors or athletic equipment. If you have a cut or a sore, the website advises washing towels and bed linen in hot water after each use, then drying the items in a dryer set for high heat.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections Among Competitive Sports Participants
- MayoClinic.com: MRSA Infection
- MayoClinic.com: Staph Infections
- Connect WIth Kids: Staph Infection
- Times-News MagicValley.com: For Wrestlers Vulnerable To Staph Infections, Hygiene Is The Bottom Line; Michael Cole; 2010
