Skin infections are very common and have always been around. Skin is the body's armor.  Any irritation, scrape, bite, burn, cut or scratch is a potential portal of attack for common environmental bacteria, especially staph aureus.  Why are staph skin infections considered a national emergency?  Because increasing numbers of young people are being seriously injured and even dying.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant staph aureus) is a super-bug (bacteria) that is not susceptible to common first line antibiotics.  The common version of this

bacteria (staph aureus) is normally found almost everywhere (check your nose) and usually not a big deal for young healthy people.  But due to the

overuse of antibiotics, the common version got smart and mutated to a strain that as you can see is very aggressive, easily transmitted by contact and hard

to treat. 

Unfortunately, just attacking MRSA with bigger guns (stronger antibiotics) gives it a chance to one day mutate into a 'Godzilla' that we may have no answer for. So as doctors, we would prefer to stop its spread and contain it than treat it.

Any situations that place people in close contact (team sports, shower facilities, fitness gyms, dorms, military service, nursing homes, day care facilities etc..) 
Wrestling gyms are the classic example.  They are a near perfect breeding grounds and thus ground zero.  These facilities are usually kept very warm, have sweaty mats from intense training and by definition require close sustained bodily contact. In this setting a scrape, pimple or simple hair bump can go bad very quickly.

What can we do to protect ourselves? 

1.  Shower with anti-bacterial soap immediately after practice (a bit controversial but currently the CDC standard).  Do not wait until you get home. 

2.  Practice good mat hygiene.  The mat and all surfaces including equipment should be mopped or wiped down before and after each practice/use with a mild, diluted Clorox solution (or other appropriate widely available antibacterial cleaning solution) then allowed to thoroughly dry.  Once dry, the mat should then be mopped with clean water to remove any residue. 

3.  Every gym should maintain multiple, readily available dispensers of hand sanitizer and encourage/mandate its use.  (if you must ask someone for it that’s not readily available)  Better yet, carry your own.

4.  Last but not least, develop a fetish about checking your skin for any type of scrape, scratch, bump or insect bite. 

The most important message is to protect yourself.  Do not expect someone else to do it for you.  There are some terrific products that you can purchase to protect your skin and significantly reduce your chances of contracting a serious infection.


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