Abstract

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection is an increasing problem in athletic populations, with outbreaks spreading among team members. Due to this elevated risk, several strategies have been adopted from nonsports settings to avoid and to control CA-MRSA outbreaks within athletic teams, including the use of surveillance nasal cultures to identify CA-MRSA carriers for decolonization. We sought to assess the effectiveness of such a surveillance program in reducing CA-MRSA infections over 1 season in a professional football team. In addition, we measured the prevalence of CA-MRSA carriage in players with active CA-MRSA infections and conducted a review of the literature for studies, including CA-MRSA nasal carriage surveys in athletic teams.Prospective cohort.Professional football team, San Francisco 49ers.Players and staff of the 2007 San Francisco 49ers (n = 108).Preseason nasal cultures for CA-MRSA were obtained on players and staff of the San Francisco 49ers. Wound and nasal cultures were performed for all participants with suspected CA-MRSA infections throughout the season.Nasal and wound cultures positive for CA-MRSA.Of 108 total subjects screened on the first day of the 2007 season, 0 cultures were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A total of 5 culture-confirmed CA-MRSA infections occurred during the course of the season. Zero of these 5 players had positive MRSA nasal cultures at the time of infection.Despite the success of surveillance nasal screening in controlling MRSA outbreaks in hospital settings, this strategy is ineffective in athletic populations.

View details for Web of Science ID 000271850500011

View details for PubMedID 19898079