MRSA (Staphylococcus aureus), is a specific staph bacteria that is particularly resistant to antibiotics. MRSA has been making headlines lately as a deadly infectious disease emerging from health care settings into the community and has become especially prevalent in sport venues. One of the main reasons for athletes’ susceptibility is that sweat softens skin and impairs its main barrier – the stratum corneum. Athletic equipment obstructs the skin, creating a warm, moist environment for bacteria growth. Skin-to-skin and equipment-to-skin contact among athletes can promote rapid spreading of bacteria. In turn, this super bug is traveling throughout the school on light switches, in cafeterias and weight rooms, on buses, and in the classrooms and locker rooms. The Centers for Disease Control has been researching MRSA and has issued warnings about the need for regular cleaning of sports equipment and facilities such as locker rooms and other common areas. However, just cleaning isn’t enough!

Because of all the protective equipment worn by athletes, skin infections that can lead to severe complications are especially prevalent in hockey and football. However almost any sport has equipment that is susceptible to bacteria, mold, and fungal growth. Baseball and softball gloves, lacrosse pads, motor cross jumpsuits, cleats… all could harbor bacteria causing infection and repugnant odors.