Role of Nasal Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in Transmission among Contact Athletes

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infections in athletes. Previous SA infection studies performed starting in the 1980s examined close physical contact athletes, with a focus primarily on injured skin. However, more recent studies of skin SA transmission in athletes were conducted using molecular epidemiology. When participants in sports having a greater duration of competition were examined, results indicated that there was prolonged contact between athletes on the same team and athletes from other teams. These indings demonstrate that efective measures for preventing SA infections are urgently needed. Factors that can afect skin SA infections include high rates of SA nasal colonization, the type of "position on a team," repeated skin-to-skin contact, and perspiration that occurs during exercise in SA nasal carriers. Thus, it should be possible to utilize molecular typing methods to assess skin-to-skin contact in athletes. This study summarizes the current understanding of SA infections in athletes. In order to develop preventive strategies, it will be necessary to further elucidate the predisposing factors and mechanisms behind SA infections and the subsequent transmission in athletes.

Staphylococcus Aureus Carriage in French Athletes at Risk of CA-MRSA Infection: a Prospective, Cross-sectional Study

“…The reported outbreaks are usually linked to poor hygiene practices and the implementation of simple hygiene measures can efficiently halt the transmission [ 27 ]. In our study, we did not find any PVL-positive MRSA carrier, nonetheless, the high SA carriage associated with skin contact during sport practice increases the risk of SA transmission between players [ 19 ] and therefore the risk of SA carriage and infection [ 7 ]. Previous study reported a higher risk of S. aureus carriage overtime in contact sports athletes and that efforts should focus to prevent transmission of S. aureus among these athletes [ 28 ].…”

“…We report a high variability of team SA carriage, from 0.0% in a karate team to 100% in a wrestling team and a baseball team. Clonal transmission of SA within sports teams has already been demonstrated as well as the increase of SA isolates in the sweat of SA carriers during sport practice [ 19 ]. However, the typing of the strains did not show clear evidence of clonal transmission within the studied teams.…”

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Risk for General Infection and Endocarditis Among Athletes

“…The authors strongly hypothesize that the USA300 clone of this case was derived from the nasal cavity of one of his teammates. In non-epidemic settings, close contact with a person who has a skin infection associated with SA infection has been reported to cause an outbreak of MRSA [28]. The continuous monitoring of SA strains in the environment has contributed to effective strategies that can be used to prevent SA infection.…”

“…The continuous monitoring of SA strains in the environment has contributed to effective strategies that can be used to prevent SA infection. For example, athletic associations should implement dissemination and prevention programs that encourage body and hand hygiene through the use of antimicrobial soaps immediately after any training or competition practice [29,30]; apply environmental decontamination rules to common places such as changing rooms, bathrooms, and benches [28]; and discourage the use of shared objects, such as razors and towels [3,29]. As a result of active surveillance, a consensus was reached on optimal approaches for infection control among athletes [31], which could be achieved by implementing critical nostril SA screening to prevent skin and soft tissue infection.…”

“…The latter hypothesis is considered the dominant mode of transmission. SA is more present on the skin surface due to the sweat produced during exercise in nasal carriers [28]. Although SA is found on the skin, the nose appears to be the main reservoir for its replication and transmission to other sites in the body.…”