NFL Tackles MRSA Infections in Tampa Bay

Cinnaminson, NJ, September 3, 2013

Last month, it was reported that two Tampa Bay Buccaneers had contracted infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and can be difficult to treat.

Reports indicate that once the outbreak was identified, the NFL team’s facility was sanitized to help prevent additional infections. Infections due to MRSA and other pathogens can easily occur in training facilities and even neighborhood gyms. These facilities can all become breeding grounds for MRSA and numerous other types of bacteria and fungi.

Any place that has a concentration of people, and where people come into contact with others, can increase a person’s risk of getting someone else’s infection. While these are often respiratory infections, athletic centers and gyms also provide an ideal opportunity for skin infections to spread. Skin infections are quite common among athletics. MRSA, Acinetobacter, Candida and Klebsiella can all be spread in athletic centers and gyms. This is due to athlete’s sweaty bodies coming into direct contact with shared equipment, mats, towels and locker rooms. 

“Training centers and athletic centers with hot tubs and pools also present additional potential microbial hazards if they are not properly maintained,” reported Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice-President of Microbiology & Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “A recent study by the CDC found fecal matter in 58% of public swimming pools. The study detected E. coli in over 50% of the pool samples. A potentially serious health concern related to hot tubs is Legionnaires’ disease. It is caused by a type of bacteria known as Legionella and people can become infected if they breathe in a mist or water droplets that contain the bacteria. EMSL provides testing services to identify a wide array of microbial pathogens to help prevent the spread of disease and to identify the source of an outbreak if one has already occurred.”

EMSL recently sponsored an educational video about bacterial and fungal pathogens that may be found in gyms, it can be seen at: http://youtu.be/OZG7XsDTk5A

To learn more about testing for MRSA, microbial pathogens or other environmental issues, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com .

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, microbial and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies. 

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

jfrasca@emsl.com