1Carteret: Students. Sports. Success.

Personal Hygiene and Routine Cleaning

October 21, 2007 at 8:00 pm | In High, Middle | No Comments

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a virulent strain of staph infection that has been around a long time. Recent news reports indicate that MRSA is on the rise. It is spread via physical contact.

Last week, Carteret County Schools sent home a MRSA brochure to all families. I draw your attention to the guidelines listed in the Sports Teams section:

• Immediately after each game, meet or practice, shower with soap and water.
• Keep abrasions or cuts covered with a clean dry bandage. Change bandage at least daily.
• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, soap, or deodorant.
• Use a barrier (e.g. clothing or towel) between your skin and shared equipment.
• Wipe down surfaces of equipment or gear before and after use with alcohol or approved anti-bacterial solution.
• Report suspicious lesions to the school nurse / coach / manager immediately.
• Athletes with draining wounds should not participate in contact sports uless the abrasion or cut can be covered with a clean dry bandage.

Here is further guidance on equipment from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health:

• Wash towels, uniforms, scrimmage shirts, and any other laundry in hot water and ordinary detergent, and dry on the hottest cycle after each use. Inform parents of these precautions if laundry is sent home (laundry must be in an impervious container or plastic bag for transporting home).
• Avoid whirlpools or common hot tubs, especially when having open wounds, scrapes, or scratches.
• Inform their coach or athletic trainer if they think they have a skin infection.

In addition, develop procedures for cleaning athletic area and equipment, and educating staff and athletes about these procedures:

• Clean the athletic area and sports equipment routinely—at least weekly—using a commercial disinfectant or a fresh (mixed daily) solution of 1 part bleach to 100 parts water (1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart of water).
• Clean mats and other high-use equipment before each practice and several times a day throughout a tournament, using a commercial disinfectant or a fresh (mixed daily) solution of 1 part bleach to 100 parts water (1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart of water).

This is worthy of downloading and printing:  Comprehensive Procedures on Equipment Sanitation (Univeristy of Maryland Sports Medicine Staph and MRSA in Athletics: Recognition and Prevention, 2007).