Photo Credit: CDC 
Information in this brochure has been 
adapted from the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, a division of the 
Department of Health and Human Services 
Bureau of Communicable Diseases 
Empire State Plaza 
Corning Tower 
Albany, NY 
Community- 
Associated MRSA 
(CA-MRSA) in 
Athletic Settings 
Wound Care 
• Practice appropriate first aid at all times— 
cuts or other abrasions on the skin should 
be washed with soap and water. 
• Cover all wounds. A clean dressing should 
be applied every day until healed. 
• All open wounds need to be cared for with 
the use of gloves to avoid exposure or 
cross-contamination of environment. 
• Soiled dressings should be handled with 
gloves and adequately disposed of after 
handling. 
• Wash hands frequently after exposure to 
contaminated persons and equipment. 
Prevention Strategies 
• Practice good hand hygiene. Coaches and 
trainers should always use gloves when 
attending to athlete wounds. After performing 
care, hands should be either washed 
with soap and water or alcohol-based hand 
sanitizers. 
• Assess skin regularly for any lesions. Refer 
wounds to appropriate healthcare personnel 
and assure little to no contact to other 
players. 
• Learn to recognize wounds that could be 
potentially infectious. 
• Launder personal items (i.e., towels) and 
clean sports equipment frequently, ideally 
after each use. 
• Encourage school nurse participation in 
teaching players how to recognize wounds 
at the beginning of every season. 
• If an infection is identified, involve 
appropriate personnel (i.e., school nurse, 
administration, and if applicable parents) to 
take proper precautions in avoiding the 
spreading of the infection. 
• Report any clusters of skin infection to your 
local health department. 
NYSDOH Recommendations 
to Prevent CA-MRSA 
A Guide for Coaches: 
Control and Prevention 
New York State Department of Health 
A Guide for Coaches: 
Control and Prevent i o n 
For additional information on MRSA: 
Visit: 
New York State Department of Health 
www.health.state.ny.us 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
www.cdc.gov 
You may also contact: 
Local health department 

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a bacteria 
commonly found on the skin and in the 
nose of 20-30% of healthy individuals. 
This bacteria often causes skin infections, 
however it can also cause other more serious 
infections, such as pneumonia or bloodstream 
infections. 
What is MRSA? 
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 
(MRSA) is a strain of 
S. aureus that is resistant 
to methicillin, an 
antibiotic in the same 
class as penicillin. 
MRSA is traditionally 
seen in people recently 
hospitalized or 
who have been treated 
at a healthcare facility 
(such as a dialysis center). 
What is CA-MRSA? 
Community-associated MRSA infections are 
considered to be community-associated because 
they occur in people who have not 
been hospitalized or had a medical procedure 
(i.e., dialysis or surgery) within the 
past year. 
CA-MRSA infections have been documented 
among athletes, prisoners, military 
recruits, daycare attendees, injection drug 
users, and others who live in crowded settings 
or routinely share contaminated items. 
What is Staphylococcus 
aureus? 
What does a CA-MRSA skin 
infection look like? 
A skin infection with CAMRSA 
can begin as a reddened 
area on the skin, or 
resemble a pimple that can 
develop into a skin abscess or 
boil causing fever, pus, swelling 
or pain. 
CA-MRSA skin infections can be treated by 
incising, draining, and locally caring for the 
wound. Antibiotics can be administered as 
necessary. These infections can progress to a 
more serious and difficult to treat stage if not 
treated properly. 
It is also possible for a preexisting cut, turfburn 
or other irritated area on the skin to develop 
an infection with CA-MRSA if the area 
is not kept clean and dry. 
How is CA-MRSA spread? 
CA-MRSA is spread through person-to-person 
contact or contact with 
a contaminated item 
such as a towel, razor, 
clothing/uniforms, and 
athletic equipment. 
Poor hygiene practices 
help facilitate the 
spread of the pathogen. 
How can CA-MRSA skin 
infections be prevented on 
MY Team? 
Both the National Collegiate Athletic Association 
(NCAA) and the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC) have identified CAMRSA 
as an emerging problem for athletic 
participants. The NCAA recommends practicing 
good personal hygiene and avoiding contact 
with infected areas to prevent the transmission 
of CA-MRSA. 
Role as an Educator 
• Encourage athletes who participate in 
sports involving contact (football, wrestling, 
etc.) to shower with soap as soon as 
possible after practices and competitions. 
• Encourage athletes who participate in activities 
where equipment is often collectively 
used to reduce sharing and/or regularly clean 
equipment with commercial disinfectants or 
a 1:100 solution of diluted bleach (1 table 
spoon bleach in 1 quart water). 
• Encourage players not to share towels or 
other personal items such as uniforms or 
equipment. 
• Educate players on the importance of 
wound care and hand hygiene. 
Role as an Administrator 
• Ensure availability of adequate soap and 
hot water. 
• Establish routine cleaning schedules for 
shared equipment (i.e., towels, uniforms, 
helmets, athletic equipment/mats). 
• If a player has a wound that cannot be 
covered adequately, consider excluding the 
player from practice or competitions until 
the wound can be covered or has completely 
healed. 
Infection site: ankle 
May be mistaken for spider bites