MRSA: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

PREVENTION STRATEGIES - Talk to your kids!

HAND WASHING IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT BEHAVIOR IN PREVENTING INFECTIOUS DISEASE. EMPHASIZE THIS TO YOUR ATHLETES. HANDS MUST BE CLEAN BEFORE YOU TOUCH YOUR EYES, MOUTH, NOSE, OR ANY CUTS OR SCRAPES ON THE SKIN. YOU ARE THE ROLE MODEL-WASH YOUR HANDS OR USE AN ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZER FREQUENTLY.

Handwashing Procedure

1. Use warm water

2. Wet hands and wrists

3. Using a bar or liquid soap

4. Work soap into a lather and wash between fingers, up to wrists, and under fingernails for at least 15 seconds

5. Dry, using a clean cloth towel or paper towel

6. Provide and encourage the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to wash hands immediately if they come in contact with any body fluid on the playing field or at other places where hand-washing facilities are not available

Wash your hands as described above:
· After sneezing, blowing, or touching the nose
· After using the toilet
· Before leaving the athletic area

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: · Do not share towels, soap, or other personal care items

Shower with soap and water as soon as possible after direct contact sports
· Dry using a clean, dry towel
· Do not share towels, even on the sidelines at game
· Ointments or antibiotics must not be shared
· Prewash or rinse items that have been grossly contaminated with body fluids
· Wash towels, uniforms, scrimmage shirts, and any other laundry in hot water and ordinary detergent and dry on the hottest cycle
· Inform parents of these precautions if laundry is sent home (laundry must be in an impervious container or plastic bag for transporting home)
· Clean the athletic area and sports equipment at least weekly using a commercial disinfectant or a fresh (mixed daily) solution of one part bleach and 100 parts water (1 tablespoon bleach in one quart of water) Your facilities should introduce a policy in which students must inform the athletic trainer if they have a skin infection and in which students will not participate in contact activities until the athletic trainer has approved their return to the activity. Have the students and parents sign a release to that effect.