Dear Boathouse Doc,

What are Staph infections and why are they so dangerous to my athletes?

A Mid-Atlantic Coach

Dear coach,

“Staph” is a shorten name for Staphlococcus Aureus, a bacteria commonly carried on the skin and in the nose of approximately 25-30 percent of the population. They do not necessarily cause an infection, but it is the most common cause of skin infections (such as pimples or boils) in the United States. Often, a mild staph skin infection can be treated without antibiotics. However, Staph can cause serious infections in surgical incisions, the bloodstream and pneumonia.

Most Staph infections are sensitive to a wide variety of antibiotics and thus can be treated relatively easily and successfully. However, there is a strain of Staphlococcus Aureus which is resistant to the Penicillin and Cephalosporin families of antibiotics. They are referred to as MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). They are not only more difficult to treat, the infections that they cause tend to be more aggressive than those caused by the more common Staphylococcus Aureus. MRSA was initially based in the hospital setting, but now has been reported in the community. It has been found among wrestlers and football players. There have been reports of MRSA infections in boathouses in this country.

MRSA is most commonly transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. It can be transmitted by touching an object which has been contaminated by a previous user. This sort of transmission is particularly important to the rowing world. Special care must be taken to prevent the spread of these bacteria. Fortunately, wiping of the erg handles, seat, oar handles and tracks with a dilute bleach solution will greatly reduce the chances of its spread. Judy Geer of Concept 2 has stated that the wiping of their oar handles and ergs with this solution will not harm the composite or wooden handles.

Good hygiene also is the basic hallmark to prevent a staph infection. This is accomplished by:

1) Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

2) Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.

3) Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.

4) Avoid sharing personal items such as razors or towels.

If you think that you have a Staph infection, you must see your health care provider. A culture may be necessary to determine the specific cause of your infection. Also, the area may need to be lanced and drained to promote healing, in addition to taking the antibiotics for the entire prescription.

For your boathouse, a dilute bleach solution should be available to wipe the oars and tracks of the shells after each use. There is no need to soak the oar handles. Also, this solution should be available in the erg room to wipe the machine after each use.

By following these simple steps and actively encouraging your athletes to practice good personal hygiene, you have reduced the chances of having an outbreak of Staph or MRSA infections in your boathouse as much as possible.

Reference: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca.html