|
|
 |
Preventing Staph Infection
Staph
With all of the media attention given to staph in schools and particularly among football players, I thought I'd pass along some information on how we can best keep our players and coaches healthy. Staph is, by far, the most common skin bacteria, and most staph responds well to anti-bacterial agents--soap, ointment, and disinfectant. The more dangerous strain of staph that you are hearing about on the news (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus--called MRSA) is resistant to conventional treatments, and the best way to keep it from becoming a problem at Gonzaga and among our players is to prevent it.
Gonzaga, the Athletic Department in particular, has already taken aggressive steps to disinfect the locker room and equipment, but the best way to protect against staph and other types of opportunistic infection is to shower using anti-bacterial soap and wash practice gear every day. This is a major departure from the norm for most players, so be prepared to meet resistance--then insist that they comply. Please tell your sons to keep their gear locked up. Your sons' best efforts to keep themselves bug-free go out the window if someone with an infection uses their girdle, pants or even pads. It happens all the time that guys 'borrow' from open lockers.
Most importantly, staph looks somewhat like acne (red dots and pustules), and it is most easily treated if detected early--often it appears on legs, arms, armpits and shoulders. It is spread by contact and bodily fluids, and it can be transmitted to skin from surfaces of clothing and equipment. Cuts and scrapes should be washed with anti-bacterial soap and treated with bacitracin as directed, then covered until they are completely healed during periods of contact with other players. Anything that looks suspicious or spreads needs to be evaluated by a doctor ASAP.
A staph infection is not an indictment of one's personal hygiene, but preventing it requires taking careful measures in that department. Please insist that your son not put on anyone else's helmet or shoulder pads, or use someone else's pads, wrist bands, gloves, girdles, mouthpieces, or even t-shirts. Under no circumstances should they share bars of soap, antiperspirants, hair brushes, combs, or anything else that makes contact with skin.
Thanks for your help keeping our players healthy.
|
|
