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Official
Statement from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association on Communicable
and Infectious Diseases in Secondary School Sports
The National Athletic
Trainers’ Association (NATA) recommends that health care professionals
and participants in secondary school athletics take the proper precautions
to prevent the spread of communicable and infectious diseases. Due to
the nature of competitive sports at the high school level, there is increased
risk for the spread of infectious diseases, such as impetigo, community
acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus infection (MRSA) and herpes
gladiatorum (a form of herpes virus that causes lesions on the head, neck
and shoulders). These diseases are spread by skin-to-skin contact and
infected equipment shared by athletes, generally causing lesions of the
skin. The following The following are suggestions from NATA to prevent
the spread of infectious and communicable diseases:
- Immediately shower
after practice or competition
- Wash all athletic
clothing worn during practice or competition daily
- Clean and disinfect
gym bags and/or travel bags if the athlete is carrying dirty workout
gear home to be washed and then bringing clean gear back to school in
the same bag. This problem can also be prevented by using disposable
bags for practice laundry.
- Wash athletic gear
(such as knee or elbow pads) periodically and hang to dry
- Clean and disinfect
protective equipment such as helmets, shoulder pads, catcher’s
equipment and hockey goalie equipment on a regular basis
- Do not share towels
or personal hygiene products with others
- All skin lesions should
be covered before practice or competition to prevent risk of infection
to the wound and transmission of illness to other participants. Only
skin infections that have been properly diagnosed and treated may be
covered to allow participation of any kind
- All new skin lesions
occurring during practice or competition should be properly diagnosed
and treated immediately.
- Playing fields should
be inspected regularly for animal droppings that could cause bacterial
infections of cuts or abrasions
- Athletic lockers should
be sanitized between seasons
- Rather than carpeting,
locker or dressing rooms should have tile floors that may be cleaned
and sanitized
- Weight room equipment,
including benches, bars and handles should be cleaned and sanitized
daily
Products
that protect or kill MRSA
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