What is MRSA?
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that causes staph infections in different areas of the body. What makes MRSA different than other staph infections is that it’s more difficult to treat—it’s resistant to many of the antibiotics typically used to treat typical staph. The good news is, the right athletic gear disinfectant can kill this bacteria and help prevent its spread.
What is CA-MRSA?
Staph infections commonly occur in hospitals and nursing homes where diseases are easily spread among patients with weakened immune systems. However, there is an even more dangerous type of staph infection that affects healthy people who have not been hospitalized recently, called Community-Associated MRSA infections (CA-MRSA). This strand of MRSA spreads through skin-to-skin contact or direct contact with contaminated objects and typically presents as a skin infection. Athletes from high contact sports like wrestling, lacrosse, rugby and football have a high CA-MRSA rate. If not caught early, CA-MRSA can require invasive treatments like surgical draining.
Fortunately, there are four effective ways to help prevent MRSA and CA-MRSA.
Wash Your Hands Properly
Washing your hands is the most effective way to prevent the spread of bacteria. Using soap and water, lather up for a minimum of 20 seconds. With the same amount of time it takes to sing happy birthday, you could save yourself from a deadly infection. Make sure to dry your hands completely when you are finished. If you do not have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Treat Open Wounds Properly
When open wounds occur, sterilize the area with rubbing alcohol. The sting the alcohol causes is worth its prevention of infection! Always use dry and sterile band-aids to prevent infections from spreading. Pus from an open wound could contain MRSA—keeping it covered will help your immune system fight against it.
Use Athletic Gear Disinfectant
Steve Traccana, a founding member of Clear Gear, had a personal experience with staph in November 2011. A minor cut on his elbow during a hockey match passed the infection into him: he spent eight days in the hospital and lost 14 lbs. This event changed his life and motivated him to help create Clear Gear. Its formula can eliminate five types of staph bacteria as well as athlete’s foot, pox virus, and many other types of dangerous infections. Clear Gear can be easily used on headgear, gloves, yoga mats, and shower areas.
Practice Good Post-Game Hygiene
Showering after a workout, practice or game can be an extremely effective way of preventing MRSA. Make sure to clean everywhere, even behind your ears. Do not just rinse off—always use soap. Do not share any personal items like towels, razors, soap and clothing.
MRSA is accompanied by a fever and pain around the infected area. It can also be spotted by a boil on the skin or pus on an open wound. If you think that you have MRSA, go to a health care provider so it can be treated. Click here to learn more about Clear Gear and how this powerful athletic gear disinfectant can help protect you from MRSA and provide a barrier against many other deadly diseases.
