Brian Russell, an athlete had no idea what hit him until he was diagnosed with Staph Infection. He routinely tackles 250-pound running backs head-on, but he nearly saw his season end because of a microscopic germ. The Cleveland Browns safety was flattened by a staph infection that hospitalized him during the preseason.
Recalling his scary experience with a skin bacteria that is becoming hard for antibiotics such as penicillin to defeat, Russell said, “I went from being in tiptop shape, to a few hours later, being knocked on my butt and having surgery”.
Stories like Russell’s are becoming more common these days. There are several reports of staph infections, in varying and deadly forms, occuring across Ohio and nationwide in high school, college and professional athletes.
Wrestlers, football players and even fencers are contracting MRSA, a serious bug that has found its way into locker rooms, weight rooms and athletic training facilities. There has been an alarming rise in the Staph cases among athletes who share towels, whirlpools and common areas like locker rooms. Staph, enters through lesions in the skin and grows best in damp areas.
To stop the spread of Staph, people need to practice proper hygiene and take preventive measures, especially athletes who can be more at higher risk.
Athletes are advised to wash their hands frequently with soap and water and to report skin lesions to their team’s medical staff. They also need to wash cuts with soap and water and apply the proper dressings daily.
This bacteria is potentially deadly when it enters the body through scratches and scrapes. Once inside, it may cause blood and joint nfections, and pneumonia.
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