Incidence of Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization and Soft Tissue Infection Among High School Football Players

Abstract

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin and soft tissue infections have been documented with increasing frequency in both team and individual sports in recent years. It also seems that the level of MRSA skin and soft tissue infections in the general population has increased.Methods: One hundred ninety athletes from 6 local high school football teams were recruited for this prospective observational study to document nasal colonization and the potential role this plays in skin and soft tissue infections in football players and, in particular, MRSA infections. Athletes had nasal swabs done before their season started, and they filled out questionnaires regarding potential risk factors for skin and soft tissue infections. Those enrolled in the study were then observed over the course of the season for skin and soft tissue infections. Those infected had data about their infections collected.Results: One hundred ninety of 386 available student athletes enrolled in the study. Forty-four of the subjects had nasal colonization with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, and none were colonized with MRSA. There were 10 skin and soft tissue infections (8 bacterial and 2 fungal) documented over the course of the season. All were treated as outpatients with oral or topical antibiotics, and none were considered serious. Survey data from the preseason questionnaire showed 21% with skin infection, 11% with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, and none with MRSA infection during the past year. Three reported a remote history of MRSA infection. Conclusions

Infection Prevention and Control Guideline for Cystic Fibrosis: 2013 Update

“…[254][255][256][257][258] In addition, outbreaks of MRSA skin and soft-tissue infections have been reported among members of sports teams. 255,[259][260][261][262][263][264][265][266][267] However, to our knowledge there are no reports of transmission of MRSA from a person with CF on a sports team to another athlete without CF or vice versa. Thus, there are no data to support exclusion of an individual with CF with MRSA in their respiratory tract from participation in sports.…”

CA-MRSA: Epidemiology of a Pathogen of a Great Concern

“…MRSA colonization in individuals in the community remains a low burden as demonstrated in a study of high school boys where no individuals were found colonized with MRSA. The fact that there were no carriers among this population may be a reflection of improvement in hygiene practices among these individuals due to previous reports of outbreaks in team sports (Lear et al, 2011). Although they did not found MRSA in the population, other studies have found colonization rates in individuals in the community ranging from 0.8 to 3% (Keuhnert et al, 2006;Salgado et al, 2003;Ellis et al, 2004).…”

In this Issue: Testing Characteristics of Patient-Centered Medical Homes, Patient Self-Care, Predicting Outcomes, and Practical Clinical Information

“…However, this "cause" does not seem to have been a common hypothesis considered in studies of constipation, as is noted in this large literature review. In another interesting study, Lear et al 19 report the rate of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization (23%, none methicillin resistant) and actual skin infections (5%) was lower than expected in football players in northeastern Ohio.…”