Practices and Procedures to Prevent the Transmission of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in High School Athletes

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are frequent in student athletes and are often caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). We evaluated the awareness of CA-MRSA among high school coaches and athletic directors in Missouri (n = 4,408) and evaluated hygiene practices affecting SSTI transmission. Of 1,642 (37%) respondents, 61% received MRSA educational information during the past year and 32% indicated their school had written guidelines for managing SSTIs in athletes. Coaches and athletic directors aware of written guidelines reported a lower incidence of SSTIs in student athletes (26%) compared to those without written policies (34%, p = .03). When confronted with SSTIs, 49% of respondents referred student athletes to the school nurse or a physician. A relationship exists between school policies for SSTI management and lower incidence of SSTIs. Educational initiatives by school nurses in conjunction with athletic staff may lead to practices that limit SSTIs in this at-risk population.